Mom says school bus driver taunted her son for months, calling him a 'loser'

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http://www.bnd.com/2010/05/20/1263156/mom-says-school-bus-driver-taunted.html

Thursday, May. 20, 2010

Mom says school bus driver taunted her son for months, calling him a 'loser'

KSDK

A school bus driver in the Hillsboro R-III School District is under fire from a

parent, who complained the driver has taunted her son for months.

The boy, fourth grader Cameron Ritchey, suffers from Asperger's syndrome, which

makes it difficult for him to interact with others. The bus driver, according to

Cameron's mother, , first teased her son in February, calling him a

" loser. "

Ritchey complained to the elementary school principal and thought the

matter was resolved. But last week, Cameron told his mother that the driver

taunted him again, calling him " kookoo " and even urged girls on the bus to join

in.

The capper came Tuesday, when Cameron said the driver told him he should not

have complained about the taunts, and the driver urged other students on the bus

not to talk to Cameron.

The last incident has a witness: a youngster who came forward and told Cameron's

father about the abuse.

Ritchie said the district has dropped the ball on the issue and thinks

the district needs to take steps against the driver.

NewsChannel 5 tried to talk to the bus driver, but we waited until students were

off the bus and it was in the bus yard, but by that time, the driver had parked

and left for the day.

School district officials would not talk on the record about the incidents, but

said the driver has an early morning appointment at district offices Thursday.

Ritchey confirms there is a video tape of the most recent incidents on the bus

and hopes they contain evidence of the abuse.

For her part, Ritchey thinks the driver should be fired, considering the fact

that there's no telling how many students over the years may have been verbally

taunted by the driver.