School District apologizes for leaving child on school bus

The Aiken County School District has admitted to leaving a 3-year-old special needs child alone on a school bus for hours and has apologized but denies it is legally liable to pay damages as a result of its mistake.

In a response to a lawsuit filed against them in late 2009, district officials responded this week denying that the incident was more than an "honest mistake, confusion and oversight."

On Aug. 17, the child was strapped into a school bus on her way to school. She was supposed to be transferred to another bus before being brought to school; however, the child was left on the bus for several hours.

The child's guardian described the child's predicament as being "physically strapped to the bus seat without access to food, water or a bathroom."

The school district states repeated claims the child was "asleep and unharmed" when discovered.

The suit alleges that at around 6:20 a.m. on Aug. 17, the daughter of April Williamson was headed to her first day at school on the bus. Because of her age and size, she was strapped into a seat. She was not discovered until after 1 p.m. that afternoon, the mother states.

The school district states she was only left alone for three hours, while the mother claims it was closer to six.

In late December, Williamson filed a personal injury suit against Aiken County School District on behalf of her child, seeking actual and punitive damages. The suit claims the child suffered extensive pain and mental anguish and demands compensation not just for her but also for her "mother's anguish."

"Both the School District and the bus driver involved sincerely regret that this incident occurred on the morning of Aug. 17, 2009, and both apologize," the suit states. "Defendant reaffirms its denial of any actionable conduct on its part proximately causing any damages alleged by (the mother)."

The driver of the bus that day, who is meant to follow procedures to stop exactly such an incident, was immediately placed on administrative leave. After a "more complete investigation of this incident," the driver was terminated in September, "despite a very long employment record which was very good and without incident."

Williamson's complaint specifically attacks procedures for checking the bus, claiming they were not in place or not followed, and that there should have been a second person on the bus to make sure children were safe and moved to their correct destination.

The School District responded by saying that there is not a second person on the bus due to "budgetary cuts and economic constraints."

Contact Mike Gellatly at mgellatly@aikenstandard.com.