The mother of an East Knox Elementary School second-grader with a heart condition has filed a complaint alleging a school system employee pushed the student on a school bus.
The incident occurred Jan. 28, the mother, Ashley Miller, told the Mount Vernon News.
She claims school officials are refusing to allow her to see a video of the incident.
However, she has reported it to Children's Services and the Knox County Sheriff's Office and has contacted an attorney.
"The students said that the other buses were leaving and they weren't in their seats yet," Miller said.
The school system employee allegedly said, "I'm not standing here all day," and pushed her son onto the seat of the bus, the mother said.
Eleven students witnessed the push, according to Miller.
Her son has a hereditary heart condition from birth requiring him to have a pacemaker. The pushing incident did not trigger any additional health problems.
"I just never thought I would be fighting against the school to keep our children safe," Miller said. "I don't know why they are refusing to show me the video."
She is hoping Children's Services will investigate the case.
Miller said Knox County School Superintendent Steve Larcomb told her that privacy laws prevent him from showing her the video.
Larcomb told the News that the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act prevents him from showing the video to Miller, but that she was “made aware” of what was shown on the recording.
On the Saturday following the alleged incident, Larcomb reviewed the video and notified the employee of the complaint. By Monday, Larcomb said, the employee had been returned to work.
“Nothing happened,” Larcomb told the Mount Vernon News. “I categorically disagree with her [the parent’s] version of events.”
At this point, Larcomb said, he considers the case closed.
The News reached out to the Knox County Sheriff's Office for comment, but did not hear back before press time.
