Bus driver off school routes; criminal case is dropped.

Byline: J.P. Ellery 

WARREN - A court case alleging a veteran school bus driver assaulted two students was dropped yesterday in Western Worcester District Court in East Brookfield, but the driver no longer is allowed to work on school bus routes.

No probable cause was found for the two allegations of assault and battery, Police Chief Bruce D. Spiewakowski said.

Marie E. Ostiguy of Oakham Road in New Braintree, who was driving for Lizak Bus Co. of Warren, insists she is innocent and said she was the real victim in this matter.

"I was victimized big time," she said yesterday.

The charges go back to late last year when two teenage members of the St. Laurent family of Knox Trail Road were involved in an incident on a school bus driven by Ms. Ostiguy for the Quaboag Regional School District of West Brookfield and Warren.

"I never touched either one of them, never touched them," she said. "I know better. I've been driving for 30 years. I know you do not touch a child, no matter what."

Times have changed, according to Ms. Ostiguy.

"Even teachers have talked of the problems," she said. "This happens all the time. These kids think they can do what they want and they'll say anything to get something going."

Scott A. St. Laurent, uncle of Steven M. St. Laurent Jr., 13, and his sister, Shandel St. Laurent, 16, alleged that Steven had a cup of coffee slapped out of his hand by Ms. Ostiguy and when Shandel went to retrieve the cup, Ms. Ostiguy grabbed her by the wrist, twisting it twice.

Ms. Ostiguy provided a different story yesterday. She said she took the coffee cup from Steven's hand after reminding him that food and beverages were not allowed on the school bus. She put the cup in a basket and told Steven he could have it at the end of the run. Then Shandel intervened, she said, but Ms. Ostiguy denied grabbing her.

Steven M. St. Laurent of Knox Trail Road in Warren, father of the children, said he did not proceed with the allegations in court because an agreement was reached with John Lizak of the Lizak Bus Co. to have Ms. Ostiguy removed from all school bus routes.

"I asked him for it in writing, and he did put it in writing for us," said Mr. St. Laurent, who declined to provide a copy of the document. Mr. St. Laurent said that was at the request of Mr. Lizak.

"He asked that we didn't talk to the reporters anymore because he did not like the publicity," Mr. St.Laurent said.

Mr. St. Laurent said he is satisfied with the agreement with the bus company. "That's what we wanted from the get-go," he said.

Ms. Ostiguy said she has, in effect, lost her job over these allegations. After about 19 years with the Lizak Bus Co., she said, she no longer drives a school bus. She is limited to driving tour buses for the company, which is catch-as-catch-can work

She especially misses the elementary school children she drove, expressing sadness that she didn't even have a chance to say goodbye to them.

Allegations against Ms. Ostiguy came to light in February when about 15 people attended a meeting of the Quaboag Regional School Committee. Some of residents met behind closed doors with the committee to discuss the allegations.