Barrington Public Schools: 3rd incident reported related to bus monitor accused of inappropriately touching student

BARRINGTON, R.I. (WLNE) — Barrington Public Schools Acting Superintendent Chris Ashley announced Monday night that a third incident was reported involving a former Ocean State Transit bus monitor who was banned from the district.

In a statement, Ashley said the monitor had worked on a special education bus route, and disclosed that all three incidents happened on that special education bus route.

On June 17, Barrington police released information on a June 12 incident, in which an elementary school student reported they were inappropriately touched by the bus monitor.

The bus monitor has not yet been identified by name.

Ashley confirmed that both the bus monitor and driver were removed from serving Barrington Public Schools after the first reported incident, and said that all three incidents have been reported to Barrington police and the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families.

Ashley said the Barrington School Committee has hired an independent attorney to investigate the incidents and conduct a review of the district’s Title IX process.

Additionally, the Barrington School Committee has created a new Director of Transportation position, who will support the investigations, report to the superintendent, and lead an overhaul of school transportation policies and protocols.

BPS is also “continuing to demand full cooperation from Ocean State Transit,” including the employment records, background checks, training documentation, and route assignments related to the bus monitor, Ashley said.

Before Ashley’s letter Monday revealing a third incident, a spokesperson for Ocean State Transit told ABC6 on June 17:

We are fully collaborating with Barrington Public Schools and the Barrington Police Department as they investigate a reported incident that occurred on Thursday, June 12, 2025, involving a company bus monitor. As a result, this individual has been immediately placed on leave pending the conclusion of the investigation, and all routes have been reassigned. It is the policy of Ocean State Transit to adhere to the highest safety standards in each and every aspect of our operations.  

Anyone with questions or concerns can contact Barrington police at 401-437-3935, or Title IX Coordinator Heidi Harris at harrish@barringtonschools.org.

The full statement from Barrington Public Schools Acting Superintendent Chris Ashley can be read below:

“Dear Barrington Families,

It is with great sadness and a deep sense of anger that I write to inform you of a third reported incident involving the former Ocean State Transit bus monitor, who had previously served a special education bus route for Barrington Public Schools.

We had previously refrained from identifying the route out of concern for student privacy. However, in light of this most recent development, we now must share that all three reported incidents occurred on a special education bus route – a route that served some of the most vulnerable members of our school community. This reality is as painful as it is unacceptable. Our responsibility to every child is to ensure not only their education, but their safety, dignity, and care. When that trust is broken, it shakes the foundation of who we are as a school community.

The bus monitor and bus driver involved were removed immediately and permanently from serving Barrington Public Schools upon the district receiving notification of the first incident. Though we had initially been told the bus monitor began working in Barrington in 2022, we have now confirmed that the employee actually started in August 2023. Ocean State Transit provided inaccurate information about the employment timeline in their initial report to the district.

We have reported each incident to the Barrington Police Department and the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF), and we remain in close coordination with law enforcement as their investigation continues. The School Committee has retained an experienced independent attorney to investigate these serious allegations and conduct a broad, independent review as part of the district’s ongoing Title IX process. The School Committee has engaged Tides Family Services to provide confidential support and counseling services for families who may need help navigating these difficult conversations with their children. These resources are being made available alongside the support already offered by our school-based counselors. Finally, the School Committee recently created a new Director of Transportation position. This new director will report directly to the Superintendent and will support ongoing investigations, oversee the Request for Proposals (RFP) for a new transportation provider, and lead a comprehensive overhaul of our school transportation policies, protocols, and administrative oversight.

We are also continuing to demand full cooperation from Ocean State Transit. We have requested all employment records, background checks, training documentation, and route assignments associated with this employee, and we are evaluating every safety safeguard currently in place, including our contract with Ocean State Transit and all procedures relating to student transportation.

I understand how distressing and painful these events are for our families, particularly those families and students directly impacted. I want to assure you that we are taking every possible step to uncover the full extent of this situation and to prevent such a breach of trust from ever happening again.

I want to be clear: nothing is more important than student safety. We are taking every possible step to understand the full extent of this situation and to ensure it never happens again.

Thank you for your continued partnership.”