Fla School Pay Mother $1.2 million

[Lone Gunman]

School District Agrees To Pay Mom $1.2 Million

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- The Pinellas County school district has agreed to pay $1.2 million to the mother of an 8 year old killed when a school bus driver dropped her off on the wrong side of a street.

The Pinellas County school district agreed to pay the money to Michelle Allen after a mediation session with her attorney Tuesday.

If the School Board approves the settlement, which is expected, the district will pay $200,000. That is the maximum allowed under a state law that caps liability for school districts and other public agencies. The district's insurance company would pay the remaining $1 million.

District officials said bus driver, William Ralston, was negligent when he dropped off Brooke Ingoldsby on the wrong side of a busy street. Brooke, a third grader at James B. Sanderlin Elementary, was hit by a vehicle as she tried to cross five lanes of rush-hour traffic Feb. 11.

Ralston, then 75, has since resigned.

Board Chairwoman Carol Cook praised the mediation efforts.

"I'm pleased it has been handled in as gentle and as tactful a manner as possible without putting the family through any more grief," Cook said. "Unfortunately, we were at fault. This is the least we can do to let the parents know we are willing to accept that responsibility."

[K C Muffin]

At fault, probably. But $1.2 million at fault? I understand it was a child and that can be heart-wrenching. Do the parents realize who is going to pay that money? Taxpayers, in the end. I guess I just don't understand the reason behind it. It cost the guy his job. Let's pay for her funeral expenses and grief counseling for the parents, but draw the line at making the parents rich over it. Don't get me wrong - I'm not calloused, but it's gotten a little out of hand.

[wordsmythe]

I don't think it's out of hand at all. This seems reasonable and I BET it doesn't happen again. At least not in this district.

[Lone Gunman]

I agree it's almost like they are selling their child. I couldn't put a dollar value on my kids. I do have to ask though why was a 75 yr. old person driving a school bus.

[wordsmythe]

Originally Posted by Lone Gunman

I agree it's almost like they are selling their child. I couldn't put a dollar value on my kids. I do have to ask though why was a 75 yr. old person driving a school bus.

He needed a job.

[lurker]

He was a gubberment hire.... don't look for logic.

edit: Don't get me started on "affirmative action" bureaucrats...

[tex]

I too would agree 1.2 m is a whole lot of cash. I can't even begin to know what it feels like to loose a child but that does seem a bit much.

As for a 75 yr old driver, if he or she can pass the test and does well why not.

[TexKan]

I whole heartedly agree with Tex and KC......... this is very sad indeed but the price tag seems rather steep. I don't think you need to break the bank everytime to make anyone "learn a lesson". This is the mentality of "it's someone's fault - and somene must pay" I bet if she had just gone after the school bus driver and not the "daddy big bucks district" there wouldn't have been enough money left out of the SS check to pay for the funeral.

This is just lookin for profit - plain and simple. The moeny is not gonna make thier loss any easier, won't bring thier child back, and the child was not a financial contributor to the family - bet they didn't have more than 10,000 life insurance policy on the child anyway. Million dollar policies are ususally for the bread winners to take care of the family if somethin happens. Not the case here............. just greed I think

[agnostic]

we live in a sad world.