The first time we send our kids to school is full of mixed emotions. We are excited because they meet new friends and learn new things. It also makes us sad because they’ve been with us for years, and it feels different for them to be away from us.
Other parents are also anxious because they are unsure how their children would act around other people. But for some, there is a sense of fear. It is their first time to be on their own, and while there are teachers and other school officials, you’ll never know when stranger danger will strike.
Unfortunately for some parents, stranger danger is a real thing. This story could serve as a warning and a lesson to every parent school and everyone involved regarding students’ safety and security.
From Excitement to Dread
It was Olivia Reynolds’s first day at Anderson Academy, and it was supposed to be an exciting and happy day in her life. However, things took a dark turn come dismissal time.
Her parents were waiting for her at the corner of their block. They were both anxious and excited to see their daughter and hear about her first day. Her father’s heart sank when they didn’t see their little girl get off the bus.
“Did not get on the bus.”
Frantic and panicked, Eric Reynolds asked the bus driver about their daughter. The driver checked every aisle and confirmed the worst-case scenario: she did not get on the bus.
His wife started to drive around the neighborhood looking for their daughter. She found Olivia in a corner and lying. She was spotted in Garden City Apartments, two miles from her supposed bus stop.
Eric was horrified, especially when he knew that in that neighborhood’s zip code, there were over 3,000 sex offenders recorded. He was just thankful they found her in time, but he knew someone should be liable for that incident.
Pointing Fingers
The parents reported the case to Aldine Independent School District so they could act on the incident. The protocol was supposed that the teacher would fill out the bus tag before dismissing the children. The tag would have helped identify if the student was meant to hop on that specific bus.
The teacher denied it at first but was cornered after a few questions, and all she said was, ‘Oh, well. I’m sorry,’ which isn’t enough considering the gravity of the situation. The bus driver who dropped off Olivia was also at fault for not double-checking his passengers.
Actions Taken
The Aldine ISD released a statement that addressed the incident, saying that Olivia’s teacher was removed from any dismissal duties. However, it was the jurisdiction of the Transport Department to raise any sanction against the bus driver, and all Aldine ISD said was that they took “corrective action.”
As for Reynolds, they thought the sanctions imposed on the erring parties were not enough since the incident traumatized their daughter. They are taking legal action and are hoping to get the teacher and bus driver fired.
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