Former School Bus Aide Gets Jail Time for Attacking Autistic Student

BOULDER, Colo. — A former school bus aide who pleaded guilty to assaulting a student with autism on the bus has been sentenced to jail.

As previously reported, Monica Burke was charged in December 2016 with 24 counts of felony assault against an at-risk person, and 14 counts of misdemeanor neglect of an at-risk person for attacks on the student, who was 20 years old at the time. School bus video from August 2016 reportedly showed Burke kicking and punching the student, hitting him with a seat belt, and spraying Lysol in his face. St. Vrain Valley School District immediately placed Burke on administrative leave when the incidents were first reported, and she no longer works for the district, 9 News reports.

Judge Ingrid Bakke ordered Burke to serve 20 months in jail, five years of probation, and 360 hours of community service, CBS 4 reports. Burke pleaded guilty to second-degree assault against an at-risk person as well as third-degree assault, according to 9 News.

The school district agreed to change their policies and procedures, and reached a settlement with the boy’s family for $3.85 million in conjunction with an insurance company, according to CBS 4. The family’s attorney said that those changes include “greater monitoring of students, longer retention periods of video, and most important a higher level of education with dealing with disabled and autistic community.”