Child lost on bus bugs grandma

My 5-year-old grandson was lost on the first day of school. He was put on the bus by the principal, yet when the bus reached its stop, he did not get off.

The bus driver turned around and asked if anyone was asleep. No one answered. The driver did not know if a 5-year-old kindergartner had gotten off at another stop. He did not look through the bus.

The principal, my son, daughter-in-law and others drove cars through the bus route. They walked the streets searching for him. His mother and father were, of course, frantic and in tears.

Finally, the bus reached the end of its route and the driver did a walk through. My grandson was found on the back seat sound asleep. We were so relieved to see him. So, is this our happy ending? No, we have to go through this again on Monday and Wednesday.

When the driver is questioned, he thinks my grandson got off at another stop or says that we should tell him to get off at the right stop. For his information, we have.

This driver doesn’t have a clue as to who this 5-year-old is or what he looks like after a week of school. I called the bus barn and talked to the head supervisor. The replies that I received were totally unsatisfactory.

I am still wondering why kindergartners are allowed to sit wherever they want. Don’t you think up front would be best, so the driver can watch after them?

Why don’t the drivers have a roster of who gets off at what stop and use it? Also, when a child is unaccounted for, why doesn’t the driver look for that child?

In the two minutes that the driver was explaining to the parents that he doesn’t know anything about their child, he could have stood up and walked through that bus.
I want to say thank you to Principal Wade Norton and everyone who helped to locate my grandson. My family entrusted the care and well-being of this child to you, and you came through like a shining star.

I am appalled at the Sedalia school bus program. These children are with them for only a short time every day and theh failed to know them or care. What should the Sedalia school board do?

Rebecca Reed
Sedalia