Bus monitor sues Hilton school district

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A former bus monitor in the Hilton Central School District who says she was treated unfairly by the district after an incident involving two unruly boys is suing the district in federal court.

Plaintiff Linda Lagorio had been working in the district for two years before the incident occurred in October 2014 when she was a monitor on a bus for 8- to 11-year-old children with special needs.

Two children on the bus she monitored “were known to particularly act in aggressive behaviors, violent at times, towards both the plaintiff and others, and displayed this type of behavior on many occasions for approximately two years prior,” according to the complaint filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court by attorney Ryan C. Woodworth.

The suit claims the district did nothing about the behavior issues even though they were aware of the situation after Lagorio made verbal and written complaints to district officials during the previous two years.

The suit accuses the district of abuse of process and malicious prosecution.

On Oct. 21, 2014, one of the children punched and kicked her when she tried to restrain him, and he threatened to kill her, according to the 10-page complaint.

The next day, as she restrained one boy, he told the other boy to stab Lagorio with pens and pencils and a pair of scissors.

A day later, Lagorio was put on administrative leave by the school district.

The incidents were recorded by video cameras, Woodworth said, although the district has not provided a copy.

The suit accuses district officials of filing a false police report with the Greece Police Department against Lagorio. According to the suit, district officials told police, among other things, that Lagorio slapped one of the boys, shook one of them violently, and dragged one boy by his leg.

Lagorio was charged with two counts of endangering the welfare of a child and she was fired. But on Dec. 23, 2015, she was acquitted after a bench trial by Greece Town Justice Vincent Campbell.

Hilton school officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment.