Bright Local van driver under investigation

•• Publisher's note: This story is updated with clarifications.

A substitute van driver for Bright Local Schools and an aide not associated with Bright Local have been charged in connection to abuse allegations against special needs students.

According to a Fox 19 News report (see https://www.fox19.com/2024/09/12/school-bus-aid-accused-abusing-special…), Roy Hansford, a bus aide, has been charged with assault and endangering children. Substitute van driver Marilyn Gross was charged with complicity. Hansford was not and is not a Bright Local employee. Hansford was a paraprofessional with Hillsboro City Schools at the time of the incident.

According to court documents, a Hillsboro police officer took a report of four functionally impaired students being physically abused in August. An investigation by the Highland County Sheriff’s Office reported Hansford was recorded by an aide in training threatening to hit students with a fly swatter.

Court documents said the two boys were non-verbal.

Four boys rode the bus to Whiteoak High School. Two other students attended Hillsboro High School.

Bright Local Schools provided a statement to Fox 19 News in response to the charges:

“(The district) is aware of the incident involving one of our substitute transportation staff. As this is an active law enforcement investigation we are unable to provide further comment at this time. Bright Local Schools has taken appropriate action and our primary concern remains the safety and well-being of our students, staff and community.”