“…I was made aware of the situation on Sunday after someone shared a Facebook post with me, and I contacted the mother on Sunday night. After talking with the mother and discussing the situation with school and district personnel on Sunday night, it was determined that we allowed the student to get on the bus that he normally rides to be with other family members, when he was supposed to go the mom’s house. (He alternates buses each week.). Our transportation department reviewed the bus videos from the day of the incident and from the previous week. The student went the same direction that he went the week before, so it was assumed that he was going to his family’s house.
I have apologized to Mrs. Senters, and I am very thankful that Mrs. Smith picked up the child after, I assume, that his other family members were not home because they were not expecting him. Unfortunately, we made a mistake that MUST be corrected moving forward. We have discussed the situation with all personnel that were involved, and if necessary, someone will hold his hand to put him on the correct bus every day.
Our current process includes a roll call after students get on the bus at the West to make sure every student is on the bus that is supposed to be on the bus. Since the student told us that he was going to other family member’s house on that day, he was allowed to ride the bus. (Again, this is the other bus he rides when he is going to another family member’s home.) Moving forward, if the mother wants to call the school secretary every single day, along with his bus note, she is welcome to do so. If she cannot get anyone to answer, she can text me since she has my cell phone number, and I will relay the message to the appropriate school staff personnally. I can’t fix the past, but we want to make it right going forward.”
Many schools do not allow students to get dropped off an other destinations, only their primary address, and now I completely understand why. I know it may be an inconvenience for parents to make arrangements for there child, but if we know they will be dropped off at home, and someone picks up from home and then transports them to an arranged location, this may be what Lawrence county needs. I’m so glad this child is safe.
My understanding is that he goes to his Dads house one week and his Moms house another week…. MANY children have to do this. The original posting did not tell the entire story of what happened. He wasn’t dropped off at an unknown location, the teacher didn’t take him to the wrong bus…… I do agree that young children should not be dropped off unless there is an adult waiting on them but the story as printed didn’t tell the whole story.
That is easier said than done for most parents. My kids ride one bus to me on my week and a different one to their dad’s on his week. There is no oh well since I have all the money in the world to spend on gas I will just take them from my house to his house in Inez. He meets half way on his week to pick them up inside the county. I also work the evening shift and can not transport them even if i wanted to. And their dad wouldnt if he had to. Sometimes that is just simply not an option. Now if they all lived inside the same city limits that would be a great idea. That child is not the only lc student to switch buses weekly or what not. It’s something the school is just gonna have to buckle down and deal with. It’s their responsibility to make sure where the small children are going. Not just oh I talked to the mother and said sorry and gave her some bogus things were gonna do.
I find this situation is more serious than a simple sorry. A child was let off without any supervision during a terrible thunderstorm . Mr. Fletcher needs to take this serious and do something about this situation other than being a jerk to the mother.
Dr. Fletcher could drive the child back and forth himself and you people would still complain.
Hello Doc
Yep cos he’s nothing but a joke and jerk!
What happened to kids having to have a note signed by the parent to get off at a different house? Why did the driver let a 6 year old off when nobody was waiting for him especially in a storm? Why didn’t the driver keep the kid on the bus and radio the school to check where the parents were? Sounds like you all need a better transportation supervisor. Bus Driver is responsible for all the kids he transports.
I actually thought that Fletcher’s response to the situation was pretty good. It seems like this could be a tricky situation with the child alternating busses each week. Be thankful that everyone is well and the school system learned a lesson from this.