A recent incident in Paramus, NJ underscored the need for mandatory surveillance equipment on all buses that transport special-needs children to and from school, whether those vehicles are district-owned or operated by third-party independent contractors. Currently, Paramus, NJ school district buses have cameras but not all special needs buses operated by third-parties.

What happened

The afternoon special-needs school bus was 15 minutes late when it brought home an 8-year-old autistic, non-verbal student recently. The boy was crying and inconsolable when he got off the bus, drawing the attention of everyone present on the street. Once home, the boy repeatedly held his face and kept saying "hurt." He was agitated all evening. He had difficulty sleeping.

When his parents called Elementary School the following morning, they were told that another parent had reported that her babysitter saw an adult hit a boy on the contracted transportation bus as her own child was being dropped off.

The sitter had told her that the boy was struck on his head with what looked like a folder- perhaps his iPad which was in a protective cover. The NJ Department of Child Protection and Permanency did not open a case until 3 days later upon call from the parents and Department of Transportation simply suggested the child must have had “self-injurious behavior”. Since the incident, the boy has refused to go to and from school by bus.

What is needed

While surveillance cameras are installed on Paramus district-owned buses, there is no requirement for cameras on buses transporting special-needs children. That must be changed. Cameras with audio and video capabilities should be mandatory for every bus because special needs students are particularly vulnerable. Some cannot speak; others who can speak will be ignored because they have "disabilities" and are not to be believed. All children, especially our special needs children who cannot even defend themselves, deserve better.

Why it matters

This is not an insignificant issue. Based on 2018 data, New Jersey has classified 241,000 students, ages 3 to 21, as having special needs. That’s nearly a quarter-million young people who comprise 17.1% of the state’s overall student population. They deserve a chance at life, out of harm’s way, where they have a voice and feel protected.

We, the undersigned, call on the Governor and the New Jersey Legislature to enact a law mandating that all school buses, including buses operated by third-party independent contractors, be equipped with surveillance cameras to strengthen the protections afforded to their student passengers.