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DELMAR – Denials by Bethlehem Central School District in response to a lawsuit filed under the Child Victims Act on August 4 are called into question by an internal school district document obtained by Spotlight News.
In our original story, found here, the Bethlehem Central School District and its school board have each been named as defendants in a civil lawsuit alleging that one of its bus drivers had repeated and unauthorized sexual contact with a primary school student between 1987 and 1989.
Spotlight News did not name the bus driver in our original story even though he was named throughout the trial because the school district denied he was employed by the district, among other things, in its document. official response filed with the Albany County State Supreme Court. August 31.
The district’s internal memo dated September 4, on letterhead from the district and district superintendent, Jody Monroe, directs district department heads to retain all documents and electronically stored information relating to the former driver David Harnett bus service.
He is the driver named in the lawsuit.
“The action is on behalf of plaintiff AL 554 Doe, regarding allegations of sexual abuse of a minor a student at Clarksville Elementary School in the District from 1987 to 1989 by former District Bus Driver / Employee David Harnett. Mr. Harnett was employed as a bus driver for the district from about 1978 to June 30, 2013, ”the memo reads.
Five days earlier, the district, through its council, had denied that Harnett was an employee of the district. They also denied owning and maintaining the school.
Harnett is the former director of Heldeberg EMS where, since Friday September 17, he remains an active member. When presented with the trial information, an incredulous President of Heldeberg EMS, Alan Zuk, said it was not “the same David Harnett”.
People familiar with Harnett as a former BCSD bus driver were able to positively identify him in a photo of him with other members of the ambulance team.
The school district memo mentioned a pre-trial hearing scheduled for earlier this week on Monday, September 20.
This is an update to the original story found here.
This story was written and reported by Michael Hallisey and John McIntyre.
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