In a special update with The Examiner, a Beaumont mother reported video evidence capturing her special needs daughter being roughly handled and threatened by a Beaumont ISD bus aide — an incident that she said proves the need for expanded video monitoring across the district. This is not the first time the family has been impacted by abusive treatment while in the care of the Beaumont Independent School District (BISD), the frustrated mother further mantains.
Jennifer Moore was notified Friday, Jan. 30, by BISD Director of Transportation Corey Metts that an incident had occurred the previous day on Bus 809, which transports students from Regina Howell Elementary. Moore’s daughter, a 9-year-old diagnosed with SLC6AI, a rare genetic disease resulting in with severe special needs, rides the bus daily.
According to Moore, Metts told her a bus aide had written an incident report claiming her daughter scratched or pinched her. However, Metts said video footage from the bus did not support that claim and that he was “more concerned with the behavior of the aide.”
Later that afternoon, Moore went to Metts’ office to view the video herself.
Moore described what she saw: Her daughter boarded the bus, dropped her backpack, sat in her seat with her head against the window, and waited to be secured in her harness — a restraint similar to a child car seat with a built-in harness.
Moore said the bus aide, Marcella (Marie) Bazile, who goes by Ms. B, approached her daughter and began forcibly handling her.
“Ms. B came over to her and starts manhandling her, grabbed her shoulder and pushed her to put harness on – grabs restraint, puts it on, puts her hand on (my daughter’s) face and shoves her head towards the window,” Moore said. “She grabs other side and goes to put it around (her), you can tell she’s yanking on it, (she) is grunting but not saying anything.
“(My daughter is) being silent like she’s been conditioned to take it.”
Moore said the aide did not speak to her daughter while shoving her around, before issuing a threat.
“Girl, if you scratch me, I’m going to strangle you, do you understand?” Ms. B threatened the child, according to the video, which continues for more than a minute and a half, Moore said, showing the aide hurting the child and telling her to stop, as the child begins grunting and crying.
Metts told Moore his department has procedures in place to protect students and acknowledged he was aware of previous concerns involving the aide. Metts allegedly told Moore he had contacted Child Protective Services and BISD Police and said the incident was “not acceptable for us.”
Metts assured Moore that staff had been instructed to pay extra attention to how the student is handled, noting that special needs children require additional care and patience.
The Examiner has confirmed the validity of Moore’s allegations, but has submitted an open records request for a copy of the bus video and audio footage, which was still pending as of press time.
For Moore, the incident is part of a troubling pattern.
Last year, Moore said, her daughter came home with welts, red marks and bruises on her legs that matched the metal buckle of her bus harness, a portable device the child said she was hit with while in the classroom. At the time, there was no video footage from the classroom available to review, and Moore said her merit was questioned before her concerns were dismissed.
“I know (my daughter) is rough and sometimes is accidentally scratched or hurt because of her own actions, and I’m not blaming them for that,” Moore said. “However, last year, I know my daughter was abused.”
Moore has since become a consistent presence at BISD board meetings, advocating for cameras in all self-contained special education classrooms. As a parent, Moore has exercised her right to have cameras placed in her own child’s classroom, but Moore said the fight is bigger than just her child, and she will not stop until all children have the same protection.
“The district wants to argue that not having the cameras is for the privacy of the students, but nobody can view the videos without specific purpose and permission,” Moore said. “If things like what happened to (my daughter) on the bus are happening when they know they are being videoed, imagine what happens without it.”
According to Texas Education Code 29.022, Texas Senate Bill 507 (84th Legislature) mandates that, upon request by a parent, staff member, or school board member, video and audio surveillance must be installed in self-contained classrooms. Moore believes cameras protect both students and staff by providing clarity when allegations arise.
BISD Board of Trustees member Joe Evans said he has personally taken Moore’s concerns to Superintendent Dr. Shannon Allen.
“She’s (Moore) been coming to our school board meetings about a year…I thought we were making progress on it, but I went ahead and went to Mrs. Allen on it,” Evans shared. “I met with Ms. Moore several times; I feel her pain; my heart goes out to her.”
Evans said the superintendent is working to determine the cost of installing cameras in all self-contained special education classrooms.
“This request, while it is paramount for the protection of the students, it is also for the protection of those charged with their care,” Evans said. “If there’s ever an issue or an allegation, we will be able to view the footage and see exactly what happened. These cameras are best for everyone involved.”
Evans noted the district is facing an impending Texas Education Agency takeover, which will result in a new board of trustees/ managers.
“Prayerfully, I can get those cameras installed on my way out before the new managers take over,” he said.
BISD issued the following statement:
“BISD is aware of the allegations against an employee relating an incident that occurred January 29th on a District bus. Any report involving student safety is reviewed with the highest priority, and we are committed to ensuring a thorough and timely review. Because this matter involves an ongoing personnel matter and student-related information, we are limited in the specific details we can provide. We can share the following:
• As per normal District protocol, the employee is not working directly with students while the investigation is pending.
• As required by law, any allegation that may involve potential abuse or neglect of a child is reported to Child Protective Services (CPS), and the District is fully cooperating with all involved entities, including the District Police Department.
• As with all investigations, timelines and next steps are determined based on the evidence gathered and coordination with appropriate agencies. While we cannot comment on specifics of this case, we can share that our Transportation Director and staff routinely review bus footage to ensure student safety and to proactively identify any concerns.
Maintaining a safe environment for all students is our top priority. Any employee found to have violated our high expectations regarding student safety will face appropriate disciplinary consequences. We appreciate your patience as the investigative process continues, and we remain committed to transparency while adhering to student and employee privacy requirements.”
For Moore, the fight isn’t over. Her daughter depends on adults to protect her, Moore said, and she intends to do just that. And, until her message is fully heard, Moore said she will continue showing up — for her daughter, and for others who cannot speak for themselves.