STATE REPRESENTATIVE ANTHONY GIARRUSSO OF EAST GREENWICH CALLS FOR NATIONAL BCI CHECKS FOR BUS DRIVER’S AND MONITORS IN R.I.

 

 

Anthony Giarrusso (Photo Google Images) on top left and James Hopkins (Photo by KDKA) on the  bottom left. Following the arrest of an East Greenwich school bus monitor on child pornography charges, State Rep. Anthony Giarrusso has called for the requirement of national BCI checks for bus drivers and bus monitors.  The bus monitor passed the Rhode Island BCI check, but a national BCI check was never performed.  According to NBC10, Giarrusso will introduce legislation that will require school bus driver’s and monitors to have national background checks prior to being employed.  Giarrusso’s son was a student on the bus of an East Greenwich bus monitor that was arrested on October 31, 2013 on child pornography charges.

On September 5, 2013, Trina Orlando of KDKA reported that First Student bus monitor, James Hopkins, 74, was accused of inappropriately touching a 16 year old girl with Down’s Syndrome on three occasions between February and June of this year. Surveillance video showed that he allegedly asked her to touch him as well.  The police were alerted when the bus driver went to the superintendent to report the incidences.  First Student stated that when Hopkins was hired in 2007, he passed all federal, state, and local background checks.  Hopkins was arraigned and released on $50,000. Bail.  When the allegations surfaced, First student fired Hopkins.

Matthias Gafni of the Contra Costa Times reported that during March of this year a settlement of $4.75 million dollars were reached in a case in which an 8 year old special needs girl was sexually assaulted by her school bus driver, Richard Evans, in 2010.  Surveillance video on the school bus captured the assault.  Prior to being hired, Evans was convicted of having sex with a prostitute. "Despite his criminal conviction for lewd conduct while on the job as a professional driver he was eligible to drive a school bus," the victim’s attorney, John Manly said.

 John Manly, hopes the settlement will force school districts to better check bus personnel’s backgrounds, and that it will prompt a state investigation.  The times also report that Manly stated, "It also sends a clear message to every school district in California -- protect our children from dangerous predators or suffer the consequences."  A Superior Court jury found Lodi Unified School negligent in hiring Evans and 90 percent liable.  The surveillance video allowed the jury to see and hear what the 8 year old victim went through during the assault.

In order to secure the safety of our children while being transported to and from school, it takes a combination of National BCI checks are necessary, cameras on school buses, comprehensive training, diligent staff that recognize that they are mandated reporters and will be held liable if they do not report abuse, and substantial lawsuits. http://www.turnto10.com/story/23934065/ri-rep-wants-background-checks-for-bus-monitors.

http://pittsburgh.cbslocal.com/2013/09/05/bus-monitor-accused-of-inappropriately-touching-special-needs-student/.