District investigating allegations that bus driver Violeta Jacobo told student he and his moms are going to hell

BARTOW — The Polk County School District has placed a bus driver on paid administrative leave pending an internal investigation into accusations that she told a second-grade boy he and his moms are going to hell because of his parents' same-sex relationship.

Bus driver Violeta Jacobo didn't face disciplinary action after an initial review of the incident, causing community members to speak out in support of the boy's mom, Nathaly Encarnacion, and their family.

A Change.org petition asking the School Board to take disciplinary action against Jacobo gained about 200 signatures in four days. Lakeland resident Erin Rothrock, who started the petition, plans to speak at today's 5 p.m. School Board meeting.

"We believe that disciplinary action should be taken against Ms. Jacobo for her actions. This breach of separation of state and religion cannot be ignored," the petition says. "She should be properly educated on appropriate interactions with children, and her direct contact with children should be limited until she can show that she can properly interact with them."

The Alta Vista Elementary student missed his regular bus home one day in February and took a different bus home from school, Encarnacion said. That day, he came home with a Jehovah's Witness business card, she said, and told his moms later that evening that they couldn't be together or they'll go to hell.

Encarnacion said she reported the incident to the School District, but never heard back. She learned through the Department of Children and Families, which she went to when she thought the incident was being ignored, that the district had reviewed the incident and had Jacobo sign a policy advisory letter.

The letter said it was not to be construed as disciplinary in nature and called Jacobo a valued team member. It outlined the School Board's policy on standards of ethical conduct.

Encarnacion told The Ledger she wanted to see disciplinary action.

Jacobo, who was hired Aug. 31, 2012, and is paid $12.25 an hour, was on paid leave Monday, according to district spokesman Kyle Kennedy.

He could not elaborate on the district's prior review of the incident or whether Jacobo admitted the allegations to her supervisor. Jacobo could not be reached for comment.