Mother Upset After 5-Year-Old Is Dropped Off At Wrong School
MURRYSVILLE (KDKA) -- A little boy named Aiden boarded his school bus for Heritage Elementary on Tuesday.
But for some reason he was dropped off one stop early at Newlonsburg Elementary. Both schools are on the Franklin Regional School District campus.
"I guess the bus driver may have made a mistake," said Heather, Aiden's mom. "I don't know who made a mistake of how he got off at the wrong school."
His mom understands that mistakes do happen, but what she doesn't understand is why no one thought to call her.
"And that's the biggest thing," said Heather. "That school districts need to communicate with the parents so they know where their kids are, especially ones that young."
The 5-year-old was spotted quickly, taken to the office and then driven over to his school by a guidance counselor.
"They transported him without my permission, in a private vehicle, without a car seat," said Heather.
The person who gave Aiden a ride was unfamiliar to him, and when he was reluctant to get in the car, he was told: "They wouldn't kidnap him."
"Now he's confused with stranger dangers, which hurts me," his mother says.
In response to her inquiry, Heather did get a call from the assistant superintendent on Wednesday morning.
"She apologized and said it was unacceptable," said Heather.
In a perfect world, parents wouldn't have to worry as much, but they do.
"I did speak with the mother, and we are upset that she did not have that information," says Assistant Superintendent Mary Catherine Reljac. "We're also putting some procedures in place with our staff to make sure that parents get that information right away."
Reljac says other new procedures will match kids exiting the buses with updated rosters at elementary schools. The elementary school principals, staff and the bus company, A.J. Myers, were all alerted.
"With some additional procedures we're hoping not to have to repeat it in the future," said Reljac.
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