Middletown school officials to do random checks of firm's buses after drug incident

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 12/20/06

BY ALISON HERGET
KEYPORT BUREAU

MIDDLETOWN — School transportation officials will be doing random checks of buses operated by Milu Bus Service, under an agreement approved at Tuesday's Board of Education meeting.

The Aberdeen-based company employed a bus aide who police said gave methadone to a 15-year-old student while on a bus ride to High School North on Oct. 30. Later that morning, that student was found unconscious while in class.

Police said the student suffered a drug overdose but later recovered.

Interim Schools Superintendent Karen L. Bilbao said the agreement approved at Tuesday's meeting gives district transportation officials the right to board and inspect buses operated by Milu.

"We're looking to augment our original agreement by telling them we are going to personally inspect buses on a daily basis, if necessary," Bilbao said before the meeting. "We felt that we needed to have a separate and more specific agreement with Milu . . . because of the incident that occurred."

Milu Bus Service did not return a call for comment. But a document provided at Tuesday's meeting showed a representative from the company had signed the agreement Thursday.

Board member Joan Minnuies cast the lone vote against the agreement, saying the company should be terminated because it breached its contract.

"They lost my trust," Minnuies said. "I wouldn't put my kid on that bus, and I can't vote to put someone else's kid on that bus."

Board Attorney Christopher Parton said the agreement "provides the assurance that we are not simply trusting the contractor." It is reaffirming that the company must provide the district up-to-date documentation on all its employees, he said.

Parton said the individual involved in the Oct. 30 incident was a substitute aide.

Parrish L. Jones of Keansburg, the bus aide, was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance while on a school bus, distribution of a controlled dangerous substance to a person under 18 and possession of a controlled dangerous substance, police said.

State criminal records show Jones had been previously convicted on drug-related charges.

Bilbao said it is the responsibility of each bus company to do background checks on its employees, and Milu is one of many with which the district has transportation contracts. The bus company is required to screen its employees and have proper documentation to show that screening was completed.

She said the purpose of the checks will be to confirm that the bus drivers and aides are the same people for which the company has provided documentation.

Bilbao said the state Department of Education is in the process of conducting an investigation of Milu Bus Service.

A spokesman for the state Department of Education did not return a call Tuesday for more information.

Jones remains in Monmouth County Jail, Freehold, in lieu of $35,000 bail.