Bus driver recently leaves 4-year-old boy on bus (Dec. 8)
By: Marisa Maldonado
nbsp; PLUMSTED District bus drivers who transport special needs students have been instructed to more carefully track their students after a 4-year-old boy recently was left on a bus for more than an hour.
The New Egypt Primary School special needs student was left unattended after the bus driver parked her bus at the district’s Evergreen Road parking lot after bringing students to school and left around 9:30 a.m. Nov. 15, neglecting to check for straggling students, Superintendent Gerald North said Monday.
"The bus driver drove away from the primary school with the child still aboard," Mr. North said. "It was human error."
The driver, who has since been fired, found the student when she returned around 11 a.m., Mr. North said. The boy, who attends a special needs program at the primary school, was unharmed and sent directly to class after being found, he said.
Special needs bus drivers now must sign in and out each student who rides the bus, Mr. North said.
The school did not know the boy was stuck on the bus because secretaries had not yet contacted his mother to check if he was going to be absent, Mr. North said.
"The mother had, in the past, brought the student in late," Mr. North said. "No one had contacted the home."
The district will beginlooking for a driver next week, Mr. North said. He declined to name the fired driver.
Bus drivers have been reminded to check the bus after leaving to make sure no students have been left behind, and teachers and aides must make sure they take off only the children for which they are responsible, Mr. North said.

