SEMINOLE COUNTY, Fla. — A Seminole County bus driver was arrested late Thursday afternoon for allegations of child abuse after an incident on a school bus, the district said.
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The incident happened on Monday, but school and law enforcement were not notified until late in the day on Nov. 30.
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The employee, later identified by the Seminole County Sheriff’s Office as 73-year-old James Blanton, was immediately removed from his duties and then placed on administrative leave while the investigation is pending, according to Seminole County Public Schools.
He is being charged with child abuse without great bodily harm, the sheriff’s office said.
A bus monitor who was present at the time, later identified as 61-year-old Lisa Florio, was arrested and charged with failure to report suspected child abuse.
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“We want to take this opportunity to reiterate that the safety of our students is our highest priority and behavior like this will not be tolerated at Seminole County Public Schools,” the district said.
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