Former Westwind School Division official charged with assault against young boy

RCMP confirm that 44-year-old Daniel “Bronc” Pilling was charged on May 27 with assault after an incident was reported earlier in the month involving an 11-year-old boy on a school bus.

During the time of the alleged assault, Pilling was the transportation supervisor for Westwind School Division.

READ MORE: Student threatened violence before driver threw him off school bus: company 

On May 10 a woman reported her son had said he had been hit in the back of the head by Pilling after the school bus her children had been riding broke down.

The mother, who does not want to be identified, said she received a text from the bus driver asking her to come pick up her kids. When she arrived, a second bus, driven by Pilling had shown up.

Her kids got off the bus, and that’s when she heard that the man had hit her son, with her other children witnessing it.

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“The bus and the school have a responsibility to keep our children safe. There’s absolutely no reason for any violence or any physical interaction, especially aggressive or violent,” said the mom.

“I think that the school, if anything, have higher responsibility to make sure that that they treat this the right way.”

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READ MORE: ‘He got off the bus covered in blood’: Edmonton mom speaks out about attack on 6-year-old

Westwind School Division issued a statement to Global News which in part said, “Our first and most important priority is always the safety of our students, staff and our entire school community.”

“Our board, school staff, and communities are committed to maintaining a welcoming, safe, caring and respectful learning environment for everyone. we take very seriously any complaint or concern that we receive.”

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "Our board, school staff, and communities are committed to maintaining a welcoming, safe, caring and respectful learning environment for everyone. we take very seriously any complaint or concern that we receive."

The statement goes on to say RCMP has investigated an incident reported on May 10, but the school division would not comment on the specific investigation.

It also says Pilling has since formally resigned from his position with the school division.

RCMP say the investigation is now complete, and no other charges are pending.

Pilling will make his first court appearance in Cardston on July 25.