A Bellefontaine City Schools bus driver has resigned following a May 19 school bus incident in which he allegedly slapped a 17-year-old girl who reportedly was verbally abusive toward him, would not comply with directions to cover her mouth and nose with a mask and struck him in the face.
The resignation of Jeff Zell, 65, effective May 21, was accepted by the Bellefontaine Board of Education at their Monday evening meeting.
Zell was charged with assault relating to the incident that he self-reported involving Tywanna Leeper, 17. Officers of the Bellefontaine Police Department investigated the incident that was recorded on a camera inside the bus.
Initially, juvenile prosecutors were sent the case to consider charges for the teen. Logan County Prosecutor Eric Stewart reported this week that Tywanna has been charged in juvenile court with a fifth-degree felony count of assault on a bus driver.
Officers reviewed the bus video footage and previously reported the student could be heard yelling at Zell before he confronted her. She was refusing to wear her mask properly and sit completely inside her assigned sitting area.
She stood up, pushed Zell and then pulled his mask and glasses off, scratching the bus driver’s face, officers report. Zell then smacked the girl and forced her into a seat.
The teen can be seen on the video swinging and striking Zell, officers said.
Following the incident, Zell was suspending without pay on May 19, pending the implementation and completion of the disciplinary process, BCS Superintendent Brad Hall reported.
Prior to Zell’s pre-disciplinary hearing, he offered his resignation, Hall said. The school district took into consideration that the police initiated charges and determined that what happened was assault.
“Generally, our expectation is that school employees will only use physical force as a last resort to prevent injury to someone,” Hall said.
“Also, our expectation is that employees will use de-escalation techniques to address situation before using force. There is a difference between intervening to prevent injury or defending oneself and assault.”