ONEONTA, N.Y. (AP) _ Police say a 27-year-old upstate New York school bus monitor has been accused of hitting a 5-year-old boy with a seat belt buckle and starting a fight between the child and another boy.

The Oneonta Daily Star reports that Heather Ferris of Schenevus has been fired from her job with the Oneonta City School District's bus company. She's facing a felony charge of second-degree attempted assault and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.

Police say the boy hit with the buckle wasn't treated for any injuries except for a bloody nose suffered in the fight on the bus Wednesday.

A message left on an answering machine at a number listed for Ferris wasn't initially returned Friday afternoon.

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