Bus dropped off Kindergartners at bus stop when parent was not there

[Anonymous]

I completely forgot that today was a half day and got a shock when the bell rang and my kindergartners were outside. I called the school and asked them why my kids were not taken back to school. The front desk said they will write a note for administrator and gave me the bus depot number. I called the bus depot and they say that since its a group bus stop, the driver doesn't have to check if a parent is there when he drops off kids, even kindergartners.

While I am at fault for not remembering the early release today, I still cannot believe that they would actually let kindergartners off without someone there to pick them up. A few weeks ago, another child and my DD decided they wanted a playdate and that child got off at my bus stop and the bus took off. I did not have the child's mothers number, neither did the child (the play date was decided by the K kids and not the parents). I had to call the school after taking her to my home and they called her mother who was frantic because the child did not get off at her stop. They live 2 streets down and came over to pick her
up. It ended well, but its a safety issue. How could the same driver let her off at another group stop that was not hers?

Is this normal in Montgomery County? Can little children be let off without a caregiver present at the stop? After today's scare, I know I will be checking my calendar every day to see if its an early release, but the safety issue still bothers me after this has happened twice with kindergartners.

[Anonymous]

So nothing bad happened in either case, you learned that your kids know how to get home from the bus stop, but you're upset?

[Anonymous]

So you forgot but it’s someone else’s fault. Of course it is.

[Anonymous]

It sounds like you have the right back up plan in place. If you or the bus driver mess up. Your kids know how to get home. Walk the route with them a few times. How far is your house from the stop? Do they need to cross streets? Point out landmarks. If there is a neighbor you know, identify that house. That way if you weren't home and they walked home, they would know where to go.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So you forgot but it’s someone else’s fault. Of course it is.

Did I say it is someone else's fault? Reading is fundamental.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So nothing bad happened in either case, you learned that your kids know how to get home from the bus stop, but you're upset?

I am more worried that K kids are let off without a caregiver present. Not upset. I want to know what the official MCPS policy is, thats all.

[Anonymous]

I’m also in MCPS. I have a neighbor whose son accidentally got on the wrong bus as a first grader. When the bus entered our neighborhood, but deviated from our route, he decided that he’d better get off at the next stop and try to walk to his house. Unfortunately, he went in the wrong direction — away from his house. Luckily, when her son didn’t get off the bus, neighbor got in her car and headed to the school, and while driving there, she spotted her son walking along the sidewalk in our neighborhood. Understandably, neighbor was very upset that her son was allowed to get off a bus he’d never been on before (this wasn’t even at the beginning of the school year, when the driver may not know all the kids yet) without anyone there to meet him. She spoke with the bus depot and our principal and they basically felt that there was nothing that the driver could/should have done differently.

You need to do 2 things: make an arrangement with a neighbor at the bus stop that you will look out for each other’s kids, and teach your own kids that they need to speak up to the driver and get back on the bus if neither you nor your helpful neighbor is waiting there at the bus stop. The families at our bus stop have all become very friendly and we look out for each other. I have multiple people who I can text if I’m running late and I need someone to collect my kids and watch them for 5 minutes until I can get there, and they know I’d do the same for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So nothing bad happened in either case, you learned that your kids know how to get home from the bus stop, but you're upset?

not OP, but this is silly. Just because nothing bad happened this time doesn't mean there's not an obvious risk. If your preschooler's teacher accidentally left him in the park while the class was taking a walk, but someone found him and returned him, would you say it was fine because nothing bad happened? Or would you see the obvious risk there and that steps should be taken so it doesn't happen again?

[Anonymous]

I understand your fear, and I think technically the policy is not to let kindergartners off alone, but think this through - if 15 kids get off at a certain stop, how is the driver (who has many routes per day) going to know which of those 15 kids is in kindergarten?

This is a great chance to teach your child some independence, and it actually sounds like you have given that your child made it home both times.

Basically, relying on "the system" to work is not your best bet here given that "the system" is large and complicated.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It sounds like you have the right back up plan in place. If you or the bus driver mess up. Your kids know how to get home. Walk the route with them a few times. How far is your house from the stop? Do they need to cross streets? Point out landmarks. If there is a neighbor you know, identify that house. That way if you weren't home and they walked home, they would know where to go.

Thank you. Good advice.

I thought about what would have happened if I was in the shower or had gone out. I told my kids to go to the neighbor's house if my car wasn't in the drive way or if no one answered the door.

I think I will also talk to the bus driver and ask him not to let my kids off if I am not there, and tell the kids to inform the bus driver if they come out and don't see me and get back on the bus.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So nothing bad happened in either case, you learned that your kids know how to get home from the bus stop, but you're upset?

I am more worried that K kids are let off without a caregiver present. Not upset. I want to know what the official MCPS policy is, thats all.

I guess since will not us google for some reason, I can.
This is on the website and in the Kindegarten handbook.


Please note: Bus operators do not know all of the pos­sible caretakers who might be picking up a student on a particular day, and are unable to match each child with a specific adult. When students get off the bus, they are entirely in the care of the parent/guardian or other care­giver. They are on their own to walk home if no parent/guardian or caregiver is present

[Anonymous]

At our school they are VERY clear that all kids will be let off at the stops. It is the parents job to be there when they are dropped off!! This is all on you OP. The play date situation sounds like a bus driver issue. But look at your kid’s schedule and have someone there!!!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I completely forgot that today was a half day and got a shock when the bell rang and my kindergartners were outside. I called the school and asked them why my kids were not taken back to school. The front desk said they will write a note for administrator and gave me the bus depot number. I called the bus depot and they say that since its a group bus stop, the driver doesn't have to check if a parent is there when he drops off kids, even kindergartners.

While I am at fault for not remembering the early release today, I still cannot believe that they would actually let kindergartners off without someone there to pick them up. A few weeks ago, another child and my DD decided they wanted a playdate and that child got off at my bus stop and the bus took off. I did not have the child's mothers number, neither did the child (the play date was decided by the K kids and not the parents). I had to call the school after taking her to my home and they called her mother who was frantic because the child did not get off at her stop. They live 2 streets down and came over to pick her
up. It ended well, but its a safety issue. How could the same driver let her off at another group stop that was not hers?

Is this normal in Montgomery County? Can little children be let off without a caregiver present at the stop? After today's scare, I know I will be checking my calendar every day to see if its an early release, but the safety issue still bothers me after this has happened twice with kindergartners.

You are correct. This is a huge problem in mcps. Please ignore the unsigned comments from the pr department.
MCPS does not track students on the buses. They have been warned by the state that this is irresponsible and sloppy, but they do not care. In other jurisdictions students are tracked and required to ride a specific bus and are checked on and off the bus so these incidents do not happen.

Yes, children can get off at wrong stop in mcps because mcps does not take this part of the school day seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our school they are VERY clear that all kids will be let off at the stops. It is the parents job to be there when they are dropped off!! This is all on you OP. The play date situation sounds like a bus driver issue. But look at your kid’s schedule and have someone there!!!

Incorrect. Ignore this drivel. The school system is responsible for children on the buses and for making sure they are delivered home safely.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:At our school they are VERY clear that all kids will be let off at the stops. It is the parents job to be there when they are dropped off!! This is all on you OP. The play date situation sounds like a bus driver issue. But look at your kid’s schedule and have someone there!!!

This. Always have the phone # of a neighbor or some other parent who waits for their child at the bus stop.