Joint Letter from the Board of Education Chair and Superintendent on Assault Allegations

April 4th, 2025

The following message was sent from Howard County Board of Education Chair Jolene Mosley and Howard County Public Schools Superintendent Bill Barnes to HCPSS staff and families on April 4, 2025:

This week, a Howard County contracted school bus attendant serving the Linwood Center was arrested and charged with two counts of assault and one count of fourth-degree sex offense. Linwood Center is one of our non-public placements serving students with autism, some of whom are nonverbal. This is deeply disturbing news, and we echo our community’s feelings of disgust and disappointment that a trusted adult would harm any child in this way, particularly a child with a disability. We are appalled whenever we hear reports of child abuse, but the nature of these allegations makes this situation especially troubling. As parents, our hearts go out to the children who ride that particular bus, and their families who are undoubtedly experiencing immense pain and anger.

When the bus driver became aware that an assault may have occurred between the bus attendant and a student, they reported it to their contractor. The video from the bus was quickly reviewed and HCPSS staff immediately reported it to Child Protective Services (CPS). The bus attendant was quickly removed from the bus and disqualified as an HCPSS bus attendant pending the CPS and police investigations. In the meantime, staff from the HCPSS Department of Special Education have been working to provide support to the affected students and their families.

As with all HCPSS employees, contracted bus drivers and attendants undergo extensive background checks, fingerprinting, and training on child sexual abuse and assault. They are also trained in the proper use of safety equipment on specialized buses and are considered mandated reporters, meaning they are legally required to report any suspected or known cases of child abuse or neglect to the appropriate authorities. Additionally, Linwood Center administrators have confirmed that they provide specific training to transportation staff on autism, behavior intervention plans, and incident reporting protocols.

We are working closely with Howard County Police, Linwood Center administrators, and the bus contractor to support the ongoing investigation. We will continue to engage with the Autism Society of Maryland as well as the Special Education Citizens Advisory Committee to provide collaborative support for all families with needs.

We have no tolerance for any adult who harms a child in our school communities or contracted vehicles. Anyone who suspects child mistreatment or abuse should immediately call the Department of Social Services at 410-872-4203 during business hours. After hours, call 410-313-2929 or email HCPDcrimetips@howardcountymd.gov. Callers can remain anonymous. If you have urgent information, please call 911. Additionally, there are helpful tips and resources online related to talking with your child about sexual abuse.

Thank you for your vigilance in keeping our children safe and for reporting any concerns that may arise.