Colon residents seek answers from school board

More than two dozen people attended Monday’s Colon Community Schools Board of Education meeting in search of answers regarding a pair of incidents dating to last school year.
The issues center on a 15-year-old student who allegedly inappropriately touched more than one student, including a 6-year-old girl on a school bus last April.
In May, the same student – a male who returned to school after a suspension for the bus incident – allegedly entered a girls bathroom at the high school and allegedly crawled under an occupied bathroom stall.
The district said the 15-year-old student is no longer attending Colon Community Schools. The case was dropped by the prosecutor’s office because it involves minors.
Still, a number of angry parents confronted the board about the incidents. Some criticized the board for not notifying the public quickly enough about the incidents. Others aimed their ire toward Dean Transportation, the agency contracted to provide bus service for the 600-student district.
Board president Eric Wagner read a prepared statement. He said contrary to what anyone believes or wishes to allege, the district recognizes students as its No. 1 priority. He said a number of policies related to bus transportation were made in light of the incidents.