3 year-old put off at wrong bus stop

[cjmom9192005]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia
My child who is 3 years-old rode the school bus home and was dropped off at the wrong bus stop, in another nieghborhood. The driver not only dropped him off at the wrong stop, but she neglected to make sure there was an adult there to get him off the bus, leaving my child wandering alone, in the rain, in an unfamiliar nieghborhood. It is my underdstanding that bus drivers are required to make sure there is someone there to get small children off the bus before they are released. I understand this was the first day of school and it was hectic for officials, but it also could have been my child's last day of his life. Please help me and tell me what action can be taken against the school.

[Antigone*of*Greece]

Originally Posted by cjmom9192005

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Virginia
My child who is 3 years-old rode the school bus home and was dropped off at the wrong bus stop, in another nieghborhood. The driver not only dropped him off at the wrong stop, but she neglected to make sure there was an adult there to get him off the bus, leaving my child wandering alone, in the rain, in an unfamiliar nieghborhood. It is my underdstanding that bus drivers are required to make sure there is someone there to get small children off the bus before they are released. I understand this was the first day of school and it was hectic for officials, but it also could have been my child's last day of his life. Please help me and tell me what action can be taken against the school.

I know how you must be feeling. That must have been very scarey for all of you. Call the school, the school board and the transporation dept. They will take action. You don't need an attorney at this point

[Zigner]

You let your THREE YEAR OLD ride alone on a bus? Incredible.

From my perspective, no harm, no foul. Yes, the school, et al, should be advised and I expect they will take some sort of action. You, however, have no "legal" avenue to pursue. In fact, it would seem to me that you should shoulder some of the blame for letting your THREEEEE YEAR OLD ride a school bus alone.

[stealth2]

I have to admit that I was a bit startled at the thought of a 3yo riding a school bus.

I have to agree with the others - I don't think you're going to have much in the way of a legal remedy. The school district (and/or the bus company - not all districts have their own buses) will investigate and likely take some sort of disciplinary action against the driver, but this isn't going to result in a big-ticket lawsuit for you.

Give the kiddo some extra ice cream to soothe his - and your - rattled nerves.

[CdwJava]

What kind of school has a 3 year old attending public school?!? Is this a public pre-school or daycare program? If so, I am AMAZED (and shocked) that they use a bus at all! When I ran a daycare (partially funded by a local school district), we signed them in and out to a responsible parent and there was no bus at all. Ah, how times have changed.

- Carl

[Country Living]

Some schools have PreK-3 and PreK-4 classes. They're usually for the families at or under the poverty level. These classes became available in our rural community with a grant from the state, which is not uncommon. It keeps the little ones from being left at home alone and ensures they get at least two wholesome meals (breakfast and lunch) a day.

Unfortunately, the little ones are sometimes put on a school bus even though they don't have the verbal skills to articulate where they should go or who should be watching for them. In our community, there is an after school program until 5pm so the little ones don't wind up getting off at the wrong stop, go home to an empty house, or worse.

Personally, I think it's unreasonable to put a three year old on a school bus unless there are instructions pinned to the child's clothes for all to see. A little one should not be expected to understand all of the dynamics, especially in the first few weeks of school, of how and where the bus routes go.

This put the responsibility back on the parent to make sure their child is safe, even if it means picking them up from school. There are just too many new things for a little one to learn and school bus stops are not on their priority list.