13WHAM Special: Bus Monitor Harassed

Study: Men Earn More Than Women Right Out Of College

Thu, 25 Oct 2012 07:42:28 -0400

(WHAM-TV) - A new study shows even right out of college, men earn more than women.

According to the American Association of University Women, full time working women who recently graduated from college earn 82 percent of what their male peers do.

One year after graduating, the average salary for men is $42,918.

For women, it's $35,296.

Karen Klein Leans Toward Retirement

Thu, 12 Jul 2012 22:32:16 -0400

Greece, N.Y. – Karen Klein says her days as a bus monitor are likely over.

Klein was bullied by several Greece middle school students on a bus in June. Video of that incident went viral and inspired a Toronto man to set up an online fundraising account in her name.

That account now totals around $680,000.

Klein says she’ll receive the money when the fundraiser ends in a week.

“I still don’t know what I’m going to do with it,” Klein said. “Maybe I’ll buy a camper and tour the country.”

Returning to a school bus, however, is not part of the plan.

“Don’t think I have time,” she said with a laugh. “Maybe I’ll get my house in shape and do the millions of crafts that I have.”

She also wants to do good by donating some of the money to charity.

“My granddaughter has Down Syndrome and my grandson has autism so I was thinking of maybe to donating to Mary Cariola and the Holy Childhood, they’re local and it take care of both,” she said.

Much is still up in the air, though.

One thing that is on the calendar is a trip to Disneyland with her family next month.

Parent: Satisfied With Son's Suspension

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 23:42:25 -0400

Greece, N.Y.-- It's a ten-minute clip four Greece middle schoolers would like to take back.

The ten-minute cell phone video of verbal abuse aimed at bus monitor Karen Klein went viral and resulted in the school district's decision to suspend all four students from buses and regular classes for the year.

"I'm really satisfied with their decision and... hoping that he learns his lesson with his punishment," said a father of one teen who did not wish to be identified.

Around the neighborhood where some of the students live, emotions are mixed.

"It's probably, actually what should happen, but I would like to go back to the beginning on the bus, why did it go that far?" questioned Joe Marron.

Melissa Patrick said the student who took the video and later posted it online is respectful and didn't mean to cause such a stir. She feels the suspensions are too much.

"I don't think a year suspension from school is necessary. I think the bus makes sense," said Melissa Patrick.

The students involved will attend a reengagement center that will allow them to complete coursework away from the Athena school campus. They will also perform 50 hours of community service and can re-apply for regular classes after 30 weeks.

One Year Suspension For Greece Bus Bullies

Fri, 29 Jun 2012 16:42:14 -0400

Greece, N.Y. – The Greece Central School District announced on Friday that four students involved in bullying a bus monitor will be suspended from school and regular bus transportation for one year.

The district is legally required to provide the students with an education.

This means the students will be transferred to the district Reengagement Center. This program keeps middle school students on track academically.

It also requires them to complete community service.

Each student will be required to complete 50 hours of community service with senior citizens and will complete a formal program in bullying prevention.

This summer, Greece Central School District staff, including transportation employees, will continue to take part in previously scheduled bullying prevention trainings.

The district is currently completing an internal review of policies, training, reporting and appeals protocols to combat bullying.

The district said in a statement, “This incident does not reflect the majority of Greece students but nonetheless we are committed to full implementation of our discipline policies and Code of Conduct.”

Karen Klein is in Boston and had not been informed of the punishment for the students, according to her daughter who is traveling with her.

Karen Klein Tours Boston

Thu, 28 Jun 2012 22:53:06 -0400

BOSTON (AP) - A 68-year-old bus monitor who gained national sympathy after being bullied by middle school students has been honored in Boston.

Karen Klein of Greece, N.Y., a Rochester suburb, got a sightseeing tour Thursday on an amphibious duck boat with her daughter and some local children. She was the guest of radio station WBMX-FM, to "Reverse the Experience."

Klein arrived in a stretch limo. She got a bouquet, was greeted by a youth cheerleading squad and escorted on a red carpet to receive an honorary Boston school bus monitor certificate.

Since a cell phone video of the June 18 bullying drew attention on YouTube, supporters have raised more than $500,000 for her. Earlier this week Klein appeared on NBC's "Today Show."

Klein said Thursday, "I've never had this much attention in my whole life."

Bullied Bus Monitor Finally Meets Man Behind Fundraiser

Wed, 27 Jun 2012 01:24:40 -0400

Rochester, N.Y. -- In just a week Karen Klein’s entire life has changed and on Tuesday night, for the first time, she met the man responsible.

On Tuesday, June 19, a YouTube video of Klein being bullied by middle schoolers on the bus started going viral. Klein, a school bus monitor for the Greece School District, never imagined what the video would lead to.

In Toronto, 25-year-old Max Sidorov saw the video and was angry and passionate enough about it to want to help Klein. He started a fundraiser online to help Karen go on a vacation. The goal was $5,000, but as of Tuesday, July 26 more than $650,000 had been donated.

Sidorov drove down to Greece from Toronto on Tuesday night to meet Klein in person. She greeted Sidorov with open arms and a warm hug.

"It's fantastic because I've never known anyone who did anything like this," says Klein. "He's done a great job. Everything is just so awesome."

The two sat at Klein’s kitchen table, opening and reading letters of support from people all over the world.

"It reinforces my belief that there are so many good-hearted, kind, genuine people out there," says Sidorov. "It's inspired me."

Klein and Sidorov say that they may make a YouTube video to thank their supporters.

Karen says it’s still hard to believe that the $650,000 is all hers. For now, she says she has no plans to quit her job.

"I enjoy the kids," she says. "I really do. I hate to have four kids keeps me away from the job I love."

As for Sidorov, he says he’s come away from the experience with a stronger faith in people.

"Love and kindness is the real goal," he says. "That's what makes the world. Love makes the world go around."

Bullied Bus Monitor Receives Apology Letters

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 14:30:55 -0400

Greece, N.Y. - Since Greece school bus monitor Karen Klein's story went viral Monday, reaching media around the world; she's been offered everything from flowers, money and trips to Disney World.

But what she really wanted was an apology. She got that Friday. Greece Police dropped off the letters to Karen Klein at her home from two of the boys and two of the parents.

"From the family of Luis and Luis Jr, we apologize from the bottom of our hearts," the Recio family stated. "What happened, we wish this never happens again to nobody, from nobody."

Klein reviewed apologies from three of the boys who bullied her on a YouTube video on a bus and they families.

"I'm deeply sorry for what my son did, I wish I could make it up to you," Wesley Helm's mother wrote. "I would like it if he could do some work for you or help you in some way. I'm sure you don't want him near you or your property, I don't blame you. I'm embarrassed , angry and sad. I am truly sorry."

Josh Slesak writes, "Dear Mrs. Klein, I am sorry for the way I treated you. When I saw the video, I was disgusted and I could not believe I did that. I'm sorry for being so mean and promise to never treat someone this way again."

As Klein read Josh's response, she kind of chuckled. I asked her why.

"It doesn't seem serious enough," Klein said.

Klein says it's hard to know what's going through the boys' mind but she hopes they've learned something from this.

"I hope they know what they've done wrong, maybe they don't know that," Klein said. "I hope they do and I hope they can live with themselves for what they did."

Klein says she too has learned and wishes she did some things differently.

"I could have gone up to the front of the bus," Klein said. "I could have done a lot of things probably, I didn't, I don't know why."

I asked Klein why she didn't write up the boys She said she didn't want to have the write the things they said on paper.

She wanted to ignore them.

Klein said what the boys said to her wasn't threatening, just irritating.

Police say all the boys involved have taken responsibility for their actions and no criminal charges will be filed.

Police told 13WHAM News in an email, "the students and families would have liked to issue the apologies in person or on television but are in fear of their safety since they have received so many threats."

Earlier this week, the father of one of the boys stopped by Karen's house to personally apologize for his son's behavior.

The Greece School District indicated it will have its own form of punishment for the students, but has not yet specified details.

Karen Klein Helps Kick Off Appreciation Weekend At Mall

Mon, 25 Jun 2012 15:23:32 -0400

Greece, N.Y. – The Greece bus monitor who was bullied was honored alongside other monitors and bus drivers on Saturday at Greece Ridge Mall.

Karen Klein was there to receive money from the mall as well as help kick off bus monitors and bus drivers’ appreciation weekend.

Meanwhile, the money continues to roll in for Karen Klein. The online fundraiser stands at $649, 430. The fundraiser was established to give her a vacation.

No Apologies From Boys For Bullying Bus Monitor

Fri, 22 Jun 2012 04:58:10 -0400

Greece, N.Y. - The bus monitor bullied by middle school boys says not one of the four boys has apologized to her in person.

Karen Klein says she's not sure she's ready to see them, either.

Klein said, "I want them to make sure they never do this again. I would like them to be kept off the bus for at least a year, and be forbidden to play any sports.”

Police say all the boys involved have taken responsibility for their actions and no criminal charges will be filed.

The father of one of the boys stopped by Karen's house to personally apologize for his son's behavior.

The Greece School District indicated it will have its own form of punishment for the students, but has not yet specified details.

Student Who Shot Bus Video Cites Comedy Central Show

Thu, 21 Jun 2012 23:43:08 -0400

Greece, N.Y. – Luis Recio Junior, the 13-year-old Greece student, who shot the bus bullying video that went viral this week says the kids involved were inspired by Comedy Central show Tosh.0.

In the show Daniel Tosh belittles people shown in YouTube clips.

Recio says the group had hoped their 10-minute video in which they berated a school bus monitor would make the show.

He added, “I’ve seen people recording bullying every day on YouTube so I thought, ‘Why would this be a problem?’”

The potential link between Tosh.0 and this incident is reminiscent of the days when violence among children was blamed on videogames like Mortal Kombat.

RIT media professor Liz Lawley objects to these correlations.

“Almost all of the real research on this has disproved that,” Lawley said. “Kids don’t emulate what they see in the media, there’s no provable connection.”

Several people who posted on 13WHAM’s facebook page argued the bullying is a byproduct of a changing society.

They claimed kids are no longer disciplined and, in turn, have no respect for others.

Lawley takes issue with this theory as well.

“Cruelty in children is nothing new,” she said. “We’ve seen this in literature, media and our daily lives for a very long time … What’s new is that we’ve got this citizen reporting.”