Child Left Miles From Home, First Student Sued

A 6-year-old boy was left miles from home, and now his family is suing the driver, First Student, and the school district.

Anastasia and John Nikolopoulos filed the lawsuit in Scott County District Court against Kathryn Gilbraith, First Student and the Davenport Community School District. They are seeking damages amounting to more than $5,000.

Gilbraith, who could not be reached for comment, “had a duty not to endanger the health, safety and/or welfare of the children she transported,” the lawsuit says. Gilbraith was convicted of child endangerment and sentenced to a year probation and a $500 fine. She was fired from her job.

The bus picked the boy up, but when it arrived at Eisenhower Elementary School, the child did not get off the bus.

The bus continued on to pick up children heading to Adams Elementary School, officials said. At some point, the boy realized the children on the bus were not the ones he usually rides to school with and told the driver he needed to go to Eisenhower. She thought the child had just gotten on the bus when it stopped along Sturdevant Street.

“All he could say is ‘I need 911,’” Jo Robbins said at the time. “Poor little guy. He was just so scared. I sat him on my step and helped him out a bit. It’s not a very good neighborhood where I live. I am just glad nothing happened to him.”

Gilbraith, who had worked for the company for two years, said at the time she was a substitute driver on a bus route she had never done before. Another driver was along to learn the route, too, she said.

First Student would not comment on litigation.