[chris]

A male student punched, kicked and choked a 15-year-old girl on a Boardman Local Schools bus in Youngstown, Ohio, on Nov. 6, 2026. The assault, recorded by another student, prompted a police investigation and the placement of a bus aide on administrative leave after the girl's family learned the details from the circulating video.

The bus was taking Boardman-enrolled students to Mahoning Valley Community School, a public alternative education program for grades 7 through 12 on South Avenue in Youngstown. The girl is a 10th grader there. Under a service agreement, Boardman provides transportation for students attending the program. The driver and aide are Boardman employees.

The girl's mother described earlier bullying by the boy, including name-calling and threats. Before the assault that Friday, something was thrown at a student and slaps were exchanged.

The boy repeatedly punched and kicked the girl, then put her in a chokehold. Other students laughed before someone said, "Chill." No one intervened. The bus was in a construction zone within Youngstown city limits. The driver could not safely pull over immediately but stopped shortly after the altercation began.

Bus staff notified Community School administrators, but the severity of the assault was not adequately communicated. The girl's stepfather learned the details on Nov. 11, five days after the attack, after the student-recorded video spread.

The girl had bruises and persistent headaches. Her family took her to an emergency room for an examination. Her mother filed a report with Youngstown police on the afternoon of Nov. 12.

Boardman Local Schools apologized for its delay in notifying parents and placed the bus aide on administrative leave pending the investigation. The district is examining whether the driver and aide followed proper procedures and is reviewing its notification and transportation practices.

Youngstown and Boardman police, along with both school systems, are reviewing the incident. Mahoning Valley Community School Superintendent Jennifer Merritt condemned threats and ridicule directed at students who witnessed or recorded the assault. The investigation remains ongoing.

[VeXis]

Out of all the stuff we see on this page this really gets me. Back in the day there is no way me and my friends would let this happen.

[chris]

Exactly. Every kid on there watched it happen or recorded it on their phone.

[kellyhound]

Lame reaction by the school. The bus driver couldn't stop the bus right away because they were driving through a construction zone. so? not to mention an aide on the bus that didn't step in. These are kids that fell behind in education for all kind of different reasons meaning they need extra supervising, especially when they're packed inside a bus.

[chris]

Some schools don't even allow the bus drivers to intervene, all they can do is call law enforcement. That wouldn't work for me.