Kinder allowed off the bus no adult to meet him

[Anonymous]

Last year my kindergartener accidentally took the bus home instead of going to aftercare at the school. Bus driver let her get off the bus and she was found wandering around our neighborhood. I do not know what possessed my child to take the bus. But it was certainly an all systems fail for mcps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the op the caregiver is going to be dealt with separately. I think all adults involved need to ensure the safety of a 5 yo child. And where did I blame the school? 18:32 are you a bus driver?

Ultimately you are to blame for failing to have someone there and a backup plan if your plan fails. Terminate the provider and nicely ask the driver to look out in the future.

[Anonymous]

Any weirdo could have been standing at that bus stop waiting for your child. How is the bus driver supposed to keep track of who is supposed to be there at each bus stop for each kid?

I can't imagine a caregiver "forgetting" about such a young child. I'm sure it happens, but...Wow.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is the op the caregiver is going to be dealt with separately. I think all adults involved need to ensure the safety of a 5 yo child. And where did I blame the school? 18:32 are you a bus driver?

Ultimately you are to blame for failing to have someone there and a backup plan if your plan fails. Terminate the provider and nicely ask the driver to look out in the future.

[Anonymous]

There are no other parents at the bus stop. I made a point to introduce the caregiver to the bus driver in the first week of school. He is the only K student on this route. We have a super small school only 60 or 65 K students. The other kids at our stop are 9 and 10 i am not sure what childcare arrangements they have but they are there alone in the morning and in the afternoon. During orientation we were told that the kids are brought back to school in the event if the bus driver does not see or recognize an adult at the bus stop. This was a major systemic failure on the part of my nanny and the bus driver. I am surprised that so many people think that the bus driver does not need to ensure the safety of a 5 year old child and that his responsibility ends with safe driving. And absolutely I praised my son for going straight home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Any weirdo could have been standing at that bus stop waiting for your child. How is the bus driver supposed to keep track of who is supposed to be there at each bus stop for each kid?

I can't imagine a caregiver "forgetting" about such a young child. I'm sure it happens, but...Wow.

Trust me I "wowed" myself when I was told.

[Anonymous]

What if another parent is there? Is it the bus drivers discretion to leave your child with another parent who says they will watch them? Some parents would want their child left with neighbor if they were 3 minutes late. Others would not. I am glad I am not a bus driver!

[Anonymous]

I would call the principal/school. Tell them what happened and that you want confirmation on the policy regarding kindergarteners leaving the bus.

In a small school the principal may handle this themselves and/or direct you the appropriate person.

[Anonymous]

Op here I called transportation department and they confiremed that K students are taken back to school in the event that there are no adults there.

[Anonymous]

I guess I might give the driver an actual photo of your caregiver and yuor child to post on the bus with instructions that if she is not present the child should be returned to the school. Then you would be covered for substitute drivers as well. Otherwise they will not be able to know which adults are there for your child.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here I called transportation department and they confiremed that K students are taken back to school in the event that there are no adults there.

OP that's only if they stay on the bus - I posted previously and MCPS transportation was equally clear to me that the driver has no responsibility to ensure your child is met by an adult. I realize that's a little terrifying, but you and some of the PPs need to wrap your head around the fact that the responsibility doesn't lie with the driver but with the kid and their caregivers.

This is my second K experience so I'm less wide eyed about it all. Bus mishaps happen all the time with kids. At our bus stop 2 kids wound up on the wrong bus on the first week. Many times the bus starts to pull away before all the kids have gotten off - a 5yo having fun with friends doesn't always pay attention to his surroundings. It happens, and it might happen to your child.

So next time have a plan in place. With our first, we had 2 incidents where he came home on the bus when he was not expected (afterschool events cancelled without notice to parents). We were lucky that other neighbors found him and took him in, but we later gave him instructions about what to do if his parents or babysitter weren't there (go to specific neighbor's houses; if they were not home, to wait in the backyard.) Never happened again, but at least we knew he wouldn't go wandering around if there was any miscommunication.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, I would complain to my caregiver about her irresponsibility.

+1000

[Anonymous]

Wow. In our district, not only does the bus driver drive them back to school, but the school calls each parent who misses the bus. (We've had a few calls like that). Sometimes we tell them we'll be at the next stop and pick them up there. Other times we go to the school.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Last year my kindergartener accidentally took the bus home instead of going to aftercare at the school. Bus driver let her get off the bus and she was found wandering around our neighborhood. I do not know what possessed my child to take the bus. But it was certainly an all systems fail for mcps.

Sounds like a fail for your child - taking a different way home and then not even going home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow. In our district, not only does the bus driver drive them back to school, but the school calls each parent who misses the bus. (We've had a few calls like that). Sometimes we tell them we'll be at the next stop and pick them up there. Other times we go to the school.

This should not have happened more than once.