A Clarke County employee and bus monitor was fired and arrested after allegedly verbally and physically attacking two elementary school students on a bus Thursday, authorities said.
Holly Lynn Sewell, 54, of Athens, faces two counts of simple battery after reacting in an “aggressive manner” to the students’ behavior on the bus, Athens-Clarke County police said in a news release.
The Athens Banner-Herald reported that the physical contact involved Sewell allegedly grabbing and holding down two special needs students.
Clarke County School District spokeswoman Mary Walsh
Wickwire told AJC.com that the students on the bus were of varying ages and attend various schools in the district. She added that not all of the students on the bus have special needs.
The incident happened in a stationary bus at Winterville Elementary School, which is where they were being taken to satellite classes.
Wickwire said bus monitors are there to oversee the students, and she said they “should intervene only in efforts to ensure student safety.”
School district officers were made aware of the incident after a student’s parents told school administrators, the police release said. The district called the police department to investigate the incident.
Around 10 p.m. Thursday, Sewell was arrested and taken to the Clarke County Jail. She was released on a $3,500 bond, jail records show.
Wickwire said counselors will provide support to all students on the bus, and concerned parents can contact her at wickwirem@clarke.k12.ga.us.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police at 706-613-3330, ext. 522 or by emailing paul.johnson@accgov.com.
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