School Bus Driver Arrested For Assaulting Special Needs Child: PD

VACAVILLE, CA — A school bus driver for the Vacaville Unified School District accused of physically assaulting a second-grade special needs student has been arrested on suspicion of felony child abuse. Kim Klopson, 64, of Vacaville, was arrested just before noon Wednesday, according to officials with the Vacaville Police Department.

Authorities with the school district and police department believe that on Feb. 6, Klopson physically grabbed and forcibly removed the special needs student from a bus, leaving the young girl with injuries described as abrasions. Based on information gathered during several interviews and reviewing surveillance footage from inside the bus, authorities believe that when the young girl did not want to get off the bus at Browns Valley Elementary School, the incident escalated into Klopson physically assaulting the child.

A VUSD employee reported the incident and the school principal immediately started an investigation, police said.

"Throughout the morning, the school district’s investigation revealed the student sustained injuries from the incident, which occurred on the school bus," police said. "Vacaville Unified then contacted the Vacaville Police Department and Child Protective Services."

Police consulted with the Solano County District Attorney's Office in conducting the investigation.

"This was a disturbing case and it is completely unacceptable for any child to have to endure such an experience," Vacaville police officials said. "The safety of our children is always of utmost importance, and our thoughts are with the victim and her family."

According to police, district officials removed Klopson from duty the morning of the alleged incident and she has since been terminated from her position as a school bus driver for VUSD.

"There are no words to explain why anyone would mistreat a child in that way," said VUSD Superintendent Jane Shamieh. "No child should ever experience something like that, especially at school. We immediately initiated police involvement and have been in full support of the investigation. We hope that the consequences and charges filed reach the fullest extent of the law. At this time, we are turning our attention toward the child, the child’s family and all of our families to ensure we are meeting their needs and addressing their valid concerns."

Photo via Vacaville Police Department