4-year-old left on Beach bus for hours, officials say

I would like to see a follow-up to this story...what has come to light in the police investigation? Why haven't charges been filed? If it was you or me we would be trying to find bail money. I sense a hint of preferential treatment here? Kind of like the wolf guarding the hen house. How can the Virginia Beach Police not take action? I guess they are condoning the actions of the bus driver. Oh well, the family has another deep pocket to add to the suit.

The driver picked up four children and dropped off only three and she didn't notice! The aids met the bus to pick up the other kids and didn't notice one was still on the bus! What about the aid that met the bus for this child he/she didn't notice he was there!

I have to say if a parent or any caregiver responsible for four children left one in a vehicle for even five minutes let alone four hours - charges would be filed!

Excellent question Chapman02...why didn't this get reported before the 15th....why hasn't the school system made any statement (probably because it's a personnel matter or THEY'RE EMBARASSED). What about the police...BUT were they notified by the school and when? I know if it was my child the first call I would want the school to make would be to the police. I think a Freedom of Information request would be in order for the records from both the school and the police. Let's get some straight and honest answers on this issue before another child gets abandoned by the schoool. Maybe notification of the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children would be in order. The parents of all children in Virginia Beach School system deserve the answers to all these questions in case it happens to them.

This story has really grabbed me so I check back for other's comments. So, I reread the article today and .... whoa ... the incident occurred on May 7 and the article was posted on May 15 ??? I know enough about newspapers to know that they hit pretty quickly on stories like this ... why a week? Maybe I don't know as much about newspapers as I think. How do papers find out about stuff like this? Wouldn't a school system spokesperson or at least a police spokesperson issue a press release? Anybody?

This is starting to sound even more fishy.

Good point, other posters, about the video. Did I miss it on TV?

Piorot makes an excellent point. What about camera's on this bus...were there any? What does it show? TOO many questions yet to be answered.

Does Virginia Beach have cameras on their buses? This needs to be explored. If there were two incidents in the past week where special needs children were not handled properly by school bus drivers...how many have occurred that were not brought to light?

Chapman02 raises a good point. Let me add two scenarios that must follow if the bus driver's alibi is to be believed. IF the boy was still strapped in when he got to school, how did the OTHER school staff miss a child strapped on the bus? Surely there are staff who come out to the bus for kids in the "special needs" programs. OR...if the boy unbuckled himself before he got to school, how could the school staff miss a child who’s roaming about the bus? And don't the schools have camera surveillance outside? Can't wait to see that tape on the local news.

lauries42703 wrote:

The trust issue seems a little distorted. Why is there a concern with the school when it was the bus driver that did complete their job? But in all reality, how many successful school bus trips have been made in Virginia Beach? I think the track record of the school transportation system speaks for itself. Again, don’t chastise the school for the break down in communication within the bus system.

Did you actually READ the article? The track record?! That's two autistic children that have been left alone in a week in that school system! What would it take for you to be concerned, a bus full, an entire school? Judging by what you wrote, lauries42703, you are obviously the bus driver, a school administrator or someone with no children who hasn't a clue.

#1 suspended WITH PAY!?!?! that's indefensible #2 the driver couldn't keep up with four children strapped in seats and "missed one"? implausible #3 I'm afraid for the child; does anyone really believe the child was strapped in a seat in a closed vehicle on an 82 degree day for 4 hrs and showed no signs of it? Where was the child and what was happening to him? #4 the school officials must have been desperate to cover themselves; yes, Orion, technology will surely sink them #5 lawsuit? I hope so. This family should have an uninterrupted year together without worrying about employment and the child should have money in trust for treatments and future longterm needs #6 maybe the police, city attorneys, school officials, social services are diligently investigating more deeply (and if not, why not?) but when they fail to comment publicly they let citizens believe that once again trust has been broken and ignored at the expense of our most vulnerable citizens - the young and disabled #7 I hope citizens, parents, and particularly, because of their unique place in the community, the Virginian Pilot will not let this fade into nothingness simply because a few weeks pass

This is the second special needs child in a week to be left by a bus driver in an extremely DANGEROUS situation. One dropped off at a bus stop with no adult supervision (against policy) and left to wander the streets for two hours and the other left on a bus by a driver who did not REMEMBER??? that the child was there for at least four hours in 80+ degree temperatures. I'm sure that the Autisim Society of America and would be very interested in the events of the past week in Virginia Beach. Virginia Beach School System you need lessons in PROTECTING CHILDREN...especially those who can't protect themselves. As parents we place a lot trust in you to keep our kids safe...not place them in danger! Don't try to cover this up...be open, honest and take action to correct the situation before you lose the trust that the public places in you.

I wish the reporter had gotten from the school who exactly called the bus driver, so the reporter could have asked THAT person what the bus driver said when they called her. “Hey, Ms. [Bus Driver]…hey, sorry to bother you. We know you’ve done this for nine years, you’re good at what you do—that’s why we hired you. These kids have unique needs. Which means their bus driver must be unique …and you’re one of them! So, here’s the deal: we’re missing a kid, it seems, the parents just called looking for them. Could you check your bus?” (long pause while the phone is put down after this professional bus driver exclaims, Sure! I’ve been doing this for nine years, which means I’m patient, so…hang on, I’ll go check! And then…) “Oh YOU FOUND HIM! YESSS!! Oh, that is wonderful. Thanks for checking the bus—you are good. And you didn’t forget about him while you were walking him from your bus to your house. MAN! You’re incredible. The kids in one of our 5th grade classes will write poems in your honor. Okay, so…we’re en route. The parents are en route. And one other thing—you’re suspended for this. But don’t get upset…you’re a pro, you’ll s

I would go ballistic if this were my child! Start saving your pennies, folks, I smell a nasty lawsuit.

The trust issue seems a little distorted. Why is there a concern with the school when it was the bus driver that did complete their job? But in all reality, how many successful school bus trips have been made in Virginia Beach? I think the track record of the school transportation system speaks for itself. Again, don’t chastise the school for the break down in communication within the bus system.

I wish there was a way to edit comments. I misread Orion's intent, and withdraw my previous comment. It is I who is blathering. My apologies.

Orion, quit blathering. If the parents want their child "mainstreamed" in a regular school, the school is required by law to enroll him and make the necessary accomodations. Do your homework next time.

Unfortunately it sucks but they ONLY way that VBCPS can suspend someone without pay is if they have been charged with a crime and since there is an investigation pending and no formal charges have been made then VBCPS hands are tied. It is so much more difficult for government agencies to discipline an employee vs. an outside company because government agencies are more likely to be sued. Catch 22. Hopefully the child is ok and this incident reminds all bus drivers how important it is to do a walk through after each drop off. I am not sure exactly when they are suppose to do their walk through, but I don't think it would be a bad thing if they did it in the morning before they pulled back out of the school parking lot.

I know the "system" wants to mainstream kids of all kinds in the same classroom. I, being the parent of a child with another kind of special need, back in the 80's, understand that no everyone can be mainstreamed. It depends on their "need". We need more special education teachers but the school "budget" won't all it. You know not all children can be expected to be mainstream. They are DIFFERENT. I would demand that the bus drive be relieved of her duties. God forbid if something had happened to this child. I realize special needs children are the exception and not the norm. I'm for mainstreaming but not in all situations. My son was not mainstreamed until the 5th grade! He went on an received a B.A. at a university, and we could not have been prouder of him that day. He worked very hard, but never gave up. He's married and lives in another state now. Very independent, too. The bus driver should be relieved from her position. A child is the most precious thing a parent has. Thank God, he was okay.

If she only delivered 75% then she should only receive 75% pay. But, really, how can you not keep track of only 4 children, special needs children at that?

Suspended with pay? Incredible........Agree!

Why?

Where was the driver's assistant? As the father of an autistic son in Chesapeake, all busses have an assistant for the driver of special needs children.

This imbecile was suspended with pay?! Had any of us done this to our own child, not only would he or she be taken away from us, we'd be locked up.

Is this child in the SECEP program, it doesn't sound like it? If not, he needs to be. This sounds like another government school trying to treat a special child like all others.

The fact that the school officials outright lied about calling gets my blood boiling. It's hard to lie with today's technology and it appears they got caught red-handed. God only knows the hell these parents will go through with this child now. He may appear fine, but he will have residual fear and anxiety from this incident; I pray for the child and the parents' well-being.

Only four kids and she missed one? Suspended with pay? Incredible........

Another example of the failed "No Child Left Behind" program. We can't even get them off the bus. And to suspend this driver WITH PAY??? That is ridiculous. If I make a grave error in judgment like that, I get FIRED. That means NO pay. What is there to investigate? The child was left on the bus because of the driver's complacency and neglect.

that your child is just another brick in the wall?