Pubdate: Fri, 23 Dec 2005 Source: Des Moines Register (IA) Copyright: 2005 The Des Moines Register. Contact: http://desmoinesregister.com/index.html Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/123 Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?225 (Students - United States) SCHOOL BUS DRIVER FIRED FOR FIELD TRIP BEHAVIOR The Des Moines Man Had Been Accused Of Sexually Suggestive Words And Gestures. A Des Moines school bus driver has been fired after being accused of "sexually inappropriate" behavior with Central Campus students on a field trip and for failing to report students' marijuana use. Shon Clausen, 38, of Des Moines was fired by the Des Moines school district in late September after being placed on leave for five months. He had worked for the district for four years as a bus driver, although his driving record includes a license suspension and 19 traffic citations. District records indicate Clausen was fired after a district investigation into a 17-day field trip in which Central Campus students traveled to Florida in March as part of their marine biology studies. Clausen was accused of making sexually suggestive comments to female students; of persistently commenting on the students' physical appearance; of making "sexually inappropriate gestures" with his hands; and of touching some of the students in "an unwanted or unwelcome" way, the records show. District spokesman Klark Jessen said the district has not alleged any criminal conduct by Clausen. The circumstances surrounding Clausen's dismissal were made public this month after an unemployment benefits hearing. The records also show Clausen was accused of failing to tell district officials that some students had brought marijuana on the trip. Doug Willyard, the district's deputy director of human resources, alleged in a letter to Clausen that his actions had "resulted in even more students being sent home for drug usage" than would have happened otherwise. Clausen said the sexual-harassment allegations are false and were made only after he caught three students on a Florida beach creating a pipe out of empty Mountain Dew cans. When he realized the students were intending to smoke marijuana, he said, he told them to get rid of the drugs. In what he called an "error in judgment," he didn't report the incident until the next day when it appeared to him that the students had ignored his advice. By that point, he said, it appeared that more students were using the drug. Ultimately, Clausen said, seven students were sent home from Florida for drug use. Jessen declined to say how many students were sent home, saying the number was tied to "personal information for students." Clausen said he worked the annual Florida field trip for three years in a row, acting as bus driver and photographer. Jessen said that typically there are about 60 students on each trip, accompanied by roughly 30 adults. "The adults include everybody from people driving the buses to the diving instructors," he said. "And they even have nurses along in case medical attention is needed. And then, of course, there are a significant number of parents." The popular, award-winning marine biology program was established in the 1980s and draws students from a 50-mile radius. The program includes an on-site laboratory and the annual two-week trip to Florida. Students raise money to help pay for the trip, and scholarships are available for those who qualify. Court records indicate Clausen has received 19 traffic citations since 1993 , including seven for speeding and seven for failure to have a valid vehicle registration. Clausen said that he also has had his "fair share of accidents" and that his license was suspended for four months in 1989 after he received three tickets in a one-year period. He said he's very careful now when it comes to driving. "I do play a lot of pool, and I do know how to drink Coors Light, but I will not touch a vehicle, whatsoever, even after one" drink, he said. Referring to a Des Moines restaurant and pub, he said, "If you know where Felix and Oscar's is, I've walked home many times from there." Jessen said the district examines the driving record and criminal history of all bus drivers before they are hired. District policy says drivers must have a "good driving record," although that term is not defined. "We know what their driving record is when we hire them," Jessen said. "There are no hard-and-fast rules, but obviously the driving record that we see when we hire someone has to be something that would lead us to believe they'd be a responsible driver." - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin