SchoolBus logo in red and orange
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Bus aide charged with attacking autistic student

Clara McGriff, a monitor in Polk County, Florida, allegedly hit the boy while he was restrained in a harness and pressed him against the side of a bus numerous times. She is facing child abuse charges and has been suspended without pay.

January 5, 2015
1 min to read


POLK COUNTY, Fla. — A school bus attendant here is facing child abuse charges after allegedly beating an 8-year-old boy with special needs on Dec. 3, deputies told the Tampa Tribune.

According to an affidavit released by the Polk County Sheriff's Office, video shows Clara McGriff hitting the boy with a water bottle and her hand while he was restrained in a body harness and pressing him against the side of a bus numerous times with her body, according to the newspaper.

The incident started after the boy threw a seat belt that was next to him and McGriff took the seat belt from him and hit him with it, deputies told Tampa Tribune. The boy continued to throw the seat belt and McGriff struck the boy on the arm with a water bottle two or three times. She used her body to press him against the bus wall and window and exchanged words with him, deputies told Tampa Tribune.

McGriff was charged with intentionally and maliciously inflicting physical pain to the boy without causing great bodily injury, according to the newspaper. She has also been suspended without pay by the Polk County School Board and Superintendent Kathryn LeRoy will recommend her termination at the school board's next meeting.

To read the full story, click here.

More Special Needs Transportation

driver of the year award logo against a dark blue backdrop with text that says "Nominations Now Open" and the AMF Bruns and School Bus Fleet logos
Special Needs Transportationby StaffFebruary 5, 2026

Announcing 2026 Special-Needs Driver of the Year Nominations

Honoring the exemplary accomplishments of school bus drivers transporting students with disabilities, AMF Bruns of America’s ninth annual National Special-Needs School Bus Driver of the Year Award series is open for nominations!

Read More →
Graphic showing a school bus with a wheelchair lift deployed and the headline “Special Needs Ridership Rises & More Trends,” highlighting 2026 School Bus Fleet special-needs survey results.

Special-Needs Transportation Shifts in 2026: More Riders, More Tech, New Pressures [Survey Report]

What’s changing in special-needs transportation? Operators report a rising need, easing driver shortages, growing tech adoption, and emerging challenges. Details here! Survey sponsor: AMF Bruns of America.

Read More →
An aerial photograph of Jersey City, New Jersey, during the day.

New Jersey Legislature Approves Special Education Transportation Task Force

The state moves to review special education transportation policies following safety concerns raised by families and advocates.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SponsoredJanuary 19, 2026

3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers

Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.

Read More →
Black and white graphic with an image of a female student getting into an alternative transportation vehicle. Text reads "Student Privacy & Special Needs: Legal, Ethical, and Practical Guidance."

Why Student Privacy Matters in Special-Needs School Transportation

Learn more about what federal law really allows when sharing special-needs information with bus drivers and aides while protecting student privacy.

Read More →

AMF Bruns Celebrates 2025 Special-Needs School Bus Driver of the Year

Julio Ospina, a SPED driver and safety trainer at Wylie ISD in Texas, was named the national winner in AMF's annual driver award series.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SponsoredDecember 1, 2025

Safety Leadership for School Bus Operations

The most important factor in operating as safely as possible is leadership. Learn about an innovative new training course that teaches all levels of leadership the many practices to instill a safety culture in the drivers.

Read More →
Special Needs Transportationby StaffNovember 11, 2025

Your Insights Needed: 2026 Special Needs Survey Now Open

Help shape the 2026 state of Special-Needs Transportation report! School district and contractor leaders — share your notes on ridership, equipment, and staffing by Dec. 31, 2025.

Read More →
SponsoredNovember 7, 2025

eBook: Good for the Fleet, Good for the Community

Learn how modern telematics helps pupil transportation fleets operate more safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively while proving measurable value to their communities. See how real fleets are reducing idling, improving driver safety, and using video data to protect budgets and passengers alike.

Read More →
Ad Loading...

Survey: Homeless Student Identification Rises for Third Consecutive Year

New data reveals frontline perspectives on supporting some of America’s most vulnerable students, detailing transportation challenges and possible solutions.

Read More →