The Algoma District School Board is reviewing its dismissal procedures at Anna McCrea Public School after a four-year-old child was allowed to get on the wrong bus last week, initiating a brief but frantic search involving Sault Police.
The incident in question happened Nov. 22 immediately after the conclusion of the school day.
“Between dismissal time, which is 3:30 p.m. at the school, and the bus returning to the school, we estimate there was about a 40 minute time frame that the student was on the bus,” said Fran Walsh, communications officer for the Algoma District School Board (ADSB).
Children involved in extra-curricular activities at the school were asked at the time to help search for the missing student and Sault Police spokesperson Lincoln Louttit confirmed the call to police came in at exactly 3:57 p.m. — suggesting there was at least 27 minutes in which the school had no idea where the four-year-old child was.
It was reported on the day of the incident the bus with the missing student pulled up at about 4:25 p.m., with multiple family members and school staff waiting in the parking lot.
ADSB did not answer questions about whether the student was ever alone on the bus that, if it left the school shortly after 3:30, had been gone almost an hour.
"For privacy reasons we are unable to disclose further information about any student," said Walsh.
ADSB director of Education Lucia Reece confirmed the board was aware of the incident, which she called unfortunate.
“As soon as the error was discovered, staff took immediate action. The bus was notified, and the child was returned to the school,” said Reece in an email. “We regret the angst this has caused and as a result, we are carefully reviewing dismissal procedures at the school.”
Reece did not confirm if there has been other incidents of children from the board getting on the wrong bus.
”We have 11,000 students and that while we take every precaution we can, sometimes, due to a variety of reasons, students might get on a wrong bus, which is why we have quick response plans and radios on buses, so that immediate measures can be taken,” she said. “We recognize the stress that such an incident can cause, but also want to reassure families that we have many measures and precautions in place, in the rare instance that a child does access the incorrect bus.”
Parents are also asked to assure students, especially young ones, wear a bus tag so drivers can do visual checks, said Reece.
“We also ask parents to avoid coming into the school or bussing areas at dismissal, as staff are focusing on safely getting students organized and into busses,” said Reece.
In an email, Anthony Mannarino, supervisor of transportation for Algoma & Huron-Superior Transportation Services, also called the incident unfortunate.
”We took immediate action and have been carefully reviewing our procedures with all bus operators and will continue to support our schools to ensure this doesn't happen again,” said Mannarino. “We regret the anxiety this has caused for all involved.”