Remove my name from the Virginia Child Neglect Registry
Remove my name from the Virginia Child Neglect Registry
The Issue
On October 5th, 2011, a child fell asleep on the Head Start School Bus I was driving. She was overlooked by the bus aid and subsequently, also by the driver. The child was determined to be asleep, according the CPS officials, and was not harmed. CPS also determined there should be no long term affects on the child and the child was more concerned for my welfare than her own, for it was me that raced across town to check the bus when notified of a potential missing child from her classroom. I found the 3 year old still buckled into her seat belt and just looking out the window. As a bus driver of 13 years, my worst nightmare had become a reality, thankfully the bus was in a safe location and it was not a hot summer day. As a result of the incident, me and my aid were arrested, originally charged with a class 6 felony, but the state dropped the charges down to a misdemeanor, giving us 40 hours of community service, a fine, and requiring a restorative justice program, which means meeting the parent to discuss why, how, and the outcome of what happened that day, along with 12 months of probation, until the charges are dismissed on January 16th, 2013.
Child Protective Services from the Department of Social Services concluded their own investigation and determined my name should go on the state child neglect registry for three years. This means I would not be allowed to pursue any other type of career in a field that had changed my life for the past 13 years, working with children. Whether Child Protective Services ever considered my past work of 5 years in middle school special needs classrooms and cafeterias in their final disposition, I would not know.
As a result of the incident, I not only lost my main career, but the state has basically ruined the livelihood of someone that has struggled to do for others before even considering doing for himself. As a result, employers have turned down my applications for work, even in the retail and fast food areas, I have only a 11 hour a week merchandising job to survive on, i lost my home, and am currently living in my car. If it were not for a close relative, I would not have anywhere to shower or park, but she has been my guardian angel. My pets (2 cats) are currently in a shed at a relatives until I can get settled into a new place. I visit with them every day.
There have been incidents such as this all over this commonwealth, even in the current year. Most, if any, did not result in an arrest, and some did not even result in loss of employment for making an honest, all-be-it, horrible mistake that did not harm anyone.
There a so many people in the commonwealth that would do harm to our children on purpose. The state should be concentrating on going after the real monsters, instead of making examples out of good, honest, people that really do want to help children make more of themselves and become more than they can ever imagine in life.
Many people I have spoken with have supported me in my cause because the system wants to continually punish someone for the rest of their lives for a mistake, reminded that did not harm the child. A mistake was made, punishment was issued, and it should not be punishable for a lifetime.
My simple goal is to bring back the life I once had, to return to the field of helping children learn and become, if this is a path I decide to return to. I made a mistake! Just because I failed at being a school bus driver, does not mean I would fail working in a classroom, cafeteria, or any other position helping with children. Even the employer I was terminated from for making the mistake believes in me, or she would not have given me a letter of reference to find other work. I also hold them as friends and would return to work with them in any capacity I could to help with the children. I am sure under the right circumstances, the employer would rehire me if it were possible.
Any support with this petition would greatly increase my chances for a better future, help regain my self-confidence, and aid in getting the state to remove my name from the Child Neglect Registry, where it should not have been placed in the first place. I would like to ask everyone to sign this petition and thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Reed
Warrenton, Virginia
The Issue
On October 5th, 2011, a child fell asleep on the Head Start School Bus I was driving. She was overlooked by the bus aid and subsequently, also by the driver. The child was determined to be asleep, according the CPS officials, and was not harmed. CPS also determined there should be no long term affects on the child and the child was more concerned for my welfare than her own, for it was me that raced across town to check the bus when notified of a potential missing child from her classroom. I found the 3 year old still buckled into her seat belt and just looking out the window. As a bus driver of 13 years, my worst nightmare had become a reality, thankfully the bus was in a safe location and it was not a hot summer day. As a result of the incident, me and my aid were arrested, originally charged with a class 6 felony, but the state dropped the charges down to a misdemeanor, giving us 40 hours of community service, a fine, and requiring a restorative justice program, which means meeting the parent to discuss why, how, and the outcome of what happened that day, along with 12 months of probation, until the charges are dismissed on January 16th, 2013.
Child Protective Services from the Department of Social Services concluded their own investigation and determined my name should go on the state child neglect registry for three years. This means I would not be allowed to pursue any other type of career in a field that had changed my life for the past 13 years, working with children. Whether Child Protective Services ever considered my past work of 5 years in middle school special needs classrooms and cafeterias in their final disposition, I would not know.
As a result of the incident, I not only lost my main career, but the state has basically ruined the livelihood of someone that has struggled to do for others before even considering doing for himself. As a result, employers have turned down my applications for work, even in the retail and fast food areas, I have only a 11 hour a week merchandising job to survive on, i lost my home, and am currently living in my car. If it were not for a close relative, I would not have anywhere to shower or park, but she has been my guardian angel. My pets (2 cats) are currently in a shed at a relatives until I can get settled into a new place. I visit with them every day.
There have been incidents such as this all over this commonwealth, even in the current year. Most, if any, did not result in an arrest, and some did not even result in loss of employment for making an honest, all-be-it, horrible mistake that did not harm anyone.
There a so many people in the commonwealth that would do harm to our children on purpose. The state should be concentrating on going after the real monsters, instead of making examples out of good, honest, people that really do want to help children make more of themselves and become more than they can ever imagine in life.
Many people I have spoken with have supported me in my cause because the system wants to continually punish someone for the rest of their lives for a mistake, reminded that did not harm the child. A mistake was made, punishment was issued, and it should not be punishable for a lifetime.
My simple goal is to bring back the life I once had, to return to the field of helping children learn and become, if this is a path I decide to return to. I made a mistake! Just because I failed at being a school bus driver, does not mean I would fail working in a classroom, cafeteria, or any other position helping with children. Even the employer I was terminated from for making the mistake believes in me, or she would not have given me a letter of reference to find other work. I also hold them as friends and would return to work with them in any capacity I could to help with the children. I am sure under the right circumstances, the employer would rehire me if it were possible.
Any support with this petition would greatly increase my chances for a better future, help regain my self-confidence, and aid in getting the state to remove my name from the Child Neglect Registry, where it should not have been placed in the first place. I would like to ask everyone to sign this petition and thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Reed
Warrenton, Virginia
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Petition created on May 20, 2012