Bond Set for Special Education Bus Driver Accused of Cruel Punishment to Children

Ex-School Bus Driver Faces Multiple Charges

In the Lexington County, South Carolina, a former school bus driver for the Lexington School District Two currently faces multiple charges for allegedly punishing special education children by intentionally turning off the air conditioning on the school bus.

Patricia Douglas, 46, has now been charged with ten misdemeanor counts of cruelty to children. A judge has set a personal recognizance bond for Douglas at $4,650, which does not require her to pay any upfront financial deposit.

A Punishment on A Hot Sunny Day

According to the South Congaree Police incident report, the incident took place on May 7 when Douglas purposely shut off the school bus’s air conditioning system as a form of discipline for the students on board. The report particularly emphasized that the weather on that day had reached a high of 91 degrees with clear and sunny skies.

A Shocking Revelation from the Bus Driver

One of the children’s parents, Melissa Derosier, relayed how she was informed by Douglas herself that she had turned off the air conditioning as a method of punishment. Derosier recounted, “She said, ‘I took the air away from the kids as harsh punishment.’ I didn’t say anything to her, I was so shocked.”

The Impact on the Special Children

Akera Allen, whose son with epilepsy was a rider on the bus, told reporters how her son came home feeling sick specifically from the bus ride under the extreme heat. She noted that her son ended up vomiting at home and even required hospitalization, which then led to his absence from school during the state test the following day due to required observations at the hospital.

Termination and Legal Consequences

Following the incident, Lexington School District Two verified that Douglas is no longer employed with the District. In a statement, the district mentioned, “The district maintains policies about staff conduct with students, and violations of these policies can lead to discipline, up to and including termination and possible legal consequences.” Douglas is expected to appear again in court on June 12 at 8:30 am.

The case continues to unfold as further investigations are being conducted.