In a press release, interim superintendent Dr. Barbara Suelter says “At the time I spoke with Mrs. Blanton, I did not know the specifics of what had occurred. I told her that I would like to investigate the matter before involving law enforcement, but I made it clear to her she had a right to call the police at anytime. It is my understanding the Blantons did contact law enforcement on Friday, February 1st about this bus matter.”

Seulter continued, “Pursuant to Board of Education policy a video records the students and bus driver while on each bus route. The video of the February 1st bus route that the Blanton’s son was on was viewed by the Blanton’s on Monday…The video has also been viewed by multiple District administrators and District legal counsel. This video does not provide a basis for a report to DCFS for child abuse. Nor does the video support that a District employee inflicted physical harm to any student. The law also prohibits us from discussing employee and student disciplinary matters in detail”

Suelter says, “The District will continue to cooperate with law enforcement to the extent that law enforcement requests cooperation in this matter.”

Adrian Blanton, a student at Murrayville Elementary School, and his parents claim he was physically harmed by his bus driver while en route home last Friday. The Blantons contend the bus driver physically abused the boy in order to discipline him.

The Morgan County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the complaint.