Indiana

Another Day in Carmel

By Abdul Hakim-Shabazz

As if a $2 million hazing lawsuit wasn’t enough, Carmel schools and taxpayers are facing more litigation.  This time from a parent who claims a Carmel school bus driver harassed and intimidated his daughters and the school district did nothing about it.

Ed Zimmer says in the November of 2008 his daughter made comments during a conversation with another student regarding same-sex marriage on a school bus that raised the ire of the bus driver.  The bus driver did not say anything his daughter while she was on the bus, however after completing her route she returned to the Zimmer’s home that afternoon to confront their child.

Zimmer then says the bus driver forced his daughter and her sister to get on the empty school bus, without any parental consent or notification.   Zimmer says the  driver proceeded to  chastise his daughter Rachel for allegedly saying gays and lesbians were going to hell.   Zimmer says the driver belittled his daughter and tried to get other students to incriminate her as well, including asking them if she had made other racist remarks in the past.  He also says the tapes show the bus driver using profanity in front of the students as well and calling his daughter a “stupid little bigot” as well as using other profanity.

Zimmer tells the  district there are school bus video tapes which back up his claims.  Zimmer say he got nowhere with the school district when he asked for the driver to be disciplined.     He’s asking the school district to fire the bus driver and that he and his family be reimbursed for legal expenses.

Full post as published by Indiana Barrister on May 25, 2010 (boomark / email).