In this June 28, 2012 photo, bus monitor Karen Klein, of Greece, N.Y., speaks with members of the media following an award ceremony in her honor at a radio station, in Boston. An online campaign that aimed to raise $5,000 to send Klein, a bus monitor who was recently bullied by students, on vacation is winding down ó after tallying more than $683,000. As the month-long campaign neared its end Friday, July 20, 2012, a spokeswoman for the fundraising site Indiegogo said more than 30,000 people had contributed to 68-year-old Klein, with donations coming in from 84 countries and all 50 states. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
July 22, 2012 - 1:21 PM
GREECE, N.Y. - An American school bus monitor who was verbally abused and tormented by students is now mulling over what to do with her embarrassment of riches.
A video showing Karen Klein being tormented and insulted on the bus ended up online and caught the eye of a Canadian who launched a fundraising drive to pay for a holiday.
Max Sidirov wanted to raise $5,000 dollars, but donors kicked in more than $700,000 by the time his campaign wrapped up Friday night.
Klein, 68, says she plans to invest some of the money, travel, help out her two daughters and donate to charity.
The Rochester, New York woman says she won't be returning to work in the fall and is planning to retire.
Klein has been overwhelmed with the outpouring of support from the public, something she says made her feel even better than money.
The school system in the nearby town of Greece has suspended four seventh-grade students for a year.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012