A Bulloch County school bus monitor was charged with simple battery last week after reportedly slapping a child on the bus.

Carolyn Williams, 62, of Middleground Road, is “no longer employed by Bulloch County Schools,” said Hayley Greene, Bulloch County Schools public relations and marketing director.

Around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday, April 30, “an elementary school (Langston Chapel Elementary) route bus driver reported to the Bulloch County Schools transportation director that a child on the bus had been allegedly slapped by the school bus monitor that works on the bus,” she said. 

The bus driver submitted a written statement to the Bulloch County Schools transportation director, complying with reporting laws, she said. 

Then, the transportation director “immediately pulled the surveillance video from the school bus where the alleged incident occurred and the video confirmed the bus driver's written statement,” Greene said.

The transportation director contacted the school district's human resources director, school principal and the Department of Family and Children Services (DFACS) to report the incident.  

Then, authorities contacted Williams, obtained a statement from her, and “removed (Williams) from duty pending an investigation,” she said.

The DFCS report led to a report being filed with the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, which is conducting an investigation, said Bulloch County sheriff’s Capt. Todd Hutchens.

Williams was booked on simple battery charges at the Bulloch County Jail and later posted bond, according to jail records.

Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at 912-489-9414.