Buffalo area State Senator Tim Kennedy is calling on the State Department of Education to investigate two separate allegations that involve sexual assault on a Buffalo City School bus.
“It is petrifying to me to think that this sort of thing can happen,” Kennedy said.
Related:
- A mother said her 6-year-old son was molested by a boy twice his age on a school bus
- A 9-year-old was physically assaulted and possibly forced to commit a sex act on a fifth grader
Kennedy wrote a letter to State Education Commissioner, MaryEllen Elia asking her to investigate bus operations both in Buffalo and statewide. ”We want to ensure that our children's safety is a top priority whether they're in school or whether they're being transported on school buses.”
In both sexual assault cases, neither bus had an aide on board to monitor student behavior. According to district leaders, only two-thirds of Buffalo City School buses have aides. Kennedy thinks an investigation would only strengthen the argument to put aides on all buses.
.@SenKennedy hopes the investigation would reveal the need for bus aides on every bus throughout the state.
— Desiree Wiley (@DesireeWiley) January 26, 2016
The idea isn't a new one. he Buffalo Common Council passed a resolution in November urging the district to put an aide on every bus. According to Common Council Member Chris Scanlon, it never heard back.
He's pleased to hear Kennedy is taking this case to the state. “I think it's irresponsible to ask some who is tasked with driving a bus, getting kids to and from safely to school to also monitor the kids when there's 20, 30, 40, 50 kids riding this bus."
.@SenKennedy wants investigation of school bus safety bc 2 sexual assault allegations. Should aides be on every bus?
— Desiree Wiley (@DesireeWiley) January 26, 2016
Putting an aide on every bus wouldn't come cheap. Scanlon said early estimates show it would cost $5 million to implement. Kennedy believes New York could foot the bill.
“There's no question in my mind that an appropriate level of funding can be utilized to ensure that those school bus aides are available and are able to be present on school buses.”
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