This browser does not support the Video element.
CLEVELAND – The Cleveland Metropolitan School District has removed a bus driver from his route after viewing a video showing the driver yelling curse words and homophobic and racial slurs at an 11-year-old student.
The video shows driver Flamando McElrath in the face of the student and even flicking his chin with his finger. McElrath can be heard telling the boy, “I wish I was your daddy, I would beat your (expletive) every day until you learn respect!”
He repeatedly used multiple curse words, a homophobic slur, and a racial slur.
CMSD released a statement to WJW that says:
The statement goes on to say:
McElrath says he is remorseful for his anger, but defends his intentions and says the student has been totally out of line for months.
“This kid for over two months was violating at least 17 of the 25 rules that we have on the bus he was notorious,” McElrath said.
McElrath says the boy was picking on other students and that he wrote him up for discipline for being out of his seat when the bus was moving and for asking inappropriate questions.
McElrath also says he wanted to meet the student’s parents.
“If they would have come to the bus and been proactive it might not have ever happened and we implore the parents you have got to get involved with your kids when it comes to the bus,” he said.
The parents of the student now have an attorney. They released a statement to WJW that says,
McElrath says the school administration did come out to the bus to talk to the student about his actions.