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Parent tells OPS board video shows aide mishandling nonverbal special‑needs student on bus; requests policy and transportation training
Summary
A parent told the Omaha Public Schools board that a redacted bus video shows a transportation aide mishandling his nonverbal daughter with DDX3X. He asked the board to require more special‑education training for bus drivers, rethink IEP team membership for the student's school, and consider video monitoring and parent access to footage.
Jeremy Wilson, a parent, told the Board of Education on May 5 that redacted video he obtained under FERPA shows a safety incident involving his nonverbal daughter, who is diagnosed with a rare genetic condition (DDX3X), while riding an OPS school bus.
Wilson said he requested the video and did not receive it until April 10; the video, he said, shows aides and staff not responding appropriately to his daughter’s attempts to communicate. He told the board the director of special education (Ms. Kara, as referenced) is on the student’s IEP team but appears in the video and that he has asked the district to remove her from the IEP team; he said that request was denied.
"If I do not feel that my daughter is safe on public transportation and you guys are able to sit here and watch this video without cringing or being concerned and actually take the time to listen to my daughter's verbal commands ... then you are a part of the problem," Wilson said. He asked the board to require more education for bus drivers about nonverbal students, to hold transportation accountable for who it places on buses, and to consider allowing parents app‑based access to monitoring video feeds so they can check their child’s wellbeing in real time.
Wilson told the board this is a policy and training issue and asked members to review the video he provided. He said he had emailed the board and administration and that only one staff member (Ms. Full) had responded so far. Wilson requested additional transparency and accountability for transportation staff who work with students who need additional supports.
Board members did not take immediate action during the public comment period; Wilson’s remarks were recorded as part of the public‑comment docket. He said he will distribute a redacted copy of the footage to board members and requested board follow‑up.
