Pocono News Section

Parents Question School Transportation Policy

Parents Question School Transportation Policy - Monday, September 28, 2009 at 11:12PM EST

Reported by: Jeremy Deebel
Monday, Sep 28, 2009 @ 11:12pm EDT
Jersey Shore, Lycoming County-

Enraged parents flooded the Jersey Shore school board meeting Monday night.

They demanded answers regarding the district's transportation policy. It comes after a 12-year-old special needs student was allegedly assaulted on a school bus.

One man asked, "Why would you place them on a bus filled with little kids who could not defend themselves?”

It was a question many parents had regarding troubled teens riding the same bus as special needs children.

The outburst stemmed from charges police filed last week against 18-year-old Tyler Carstetter, of Jersey Shore.

Police allege Carstetter and three juveniles punched and elbowed a 12-year-old special needs student while riding the bus home on September 9th.

The boy's parents, Harry and Cindy Maiolo, came for answers.

Harry Maiolo, the victim’s stepfather, said, "The more that we started to inquire about it, the more we found out that there were other parents having the same issues for years before us."

News of the alleged assault has other parents of special needs children extremely concerned.

Charles Rhinehart, Jr., of Jersey Shore, noted, "I'm weary of putting my son back on a school bus. Because they didn't guarantee me tonight that he was going to be safe."

Cindy Maiolo says school officials added an aide to her son's bus. But she says that's not enough. She's looking for a different solution.

She added, "I'm enraged that these kids, these three alleged juveniles, are still riding the bus with my son."

The parents came seeking answers, and a change to the district's transportation policy.

They left with essentially a "no comment" from the Jersey Shore school board, which we're told is still conducting its own internal investigation.

Rhinehart lamented, "I'm very unsatisfied. We got no answers. I'm tired of hearing, 'Well, we're doing fact-finding,' you know? How long's it going to take?"

Cindy Maiolo added, "I will be back at the next board meeting. If they're going to have a discussion, I want answers."

That next school board meeting takes place Monday, October 26th, at 7PM.