Clara McGriff, Florida bus monitor arrested after hitting student
A Florida bus monitor was arrested yesterday on charges of child abuse after she struck 8-year-old special needs student and then pinned him down. Polk County Sheriff’s Office detailed the incident between the woman and the autistic boy.
Now Clara McGriff, 52, of Lake Wales, Fla. faces a charge of negligent child abuse, according to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office.
The boy involved has autism, ADD, ADHD and explosive behavior disorder, according to a deputy’s report on the Dec. 3 altercation. He uses a harness on the vehicle to limit his movement. The boy threw a seat beat in the seat next to him and McGriff hit him on the arm with the belt, according to the report.
McGriff actually struck the boy three times with a water bottle and then stood over the boy in a manner the report calls intimidating and said, “I’m tired of you.”
The boy threw his shoe over his shoulder, the report says, and then McGriff threw it at him in an aggressive manner. Next the boy spit on McGriff, the report says, and she hit him eight to nine times on the right arm. She then pressed the boy against a window and wall in the vehicle, later instructing another student to do the same.
The schools superintendent suspended McGriff without pay and will recommend to the school board that McGriff be fired during their next meeting Jan. 20, deputies said.