District wants to make sure bus incident doesn't happen again

Staples-Motley Superintendent Mark Schmitz said Friday that steps have been taken by the district to ensure students aren't accidentally left at school bus transfer sites, such as what apparently occurred Wednesday morning at Motley Staples Middle School.

Schmitz confirmed that a young elementary student, instead of boarding a bus to Staples Elementary School, was somehow left at the bus transfer site. Instead of walking into the middle school to let someone know she missed the bus, the young girl set out walking home and a passing motorist picked her up. Schmitz was not sure if the motorist knew the girl or how far the girl had walked before being discovered.

Schmitz said the girl was unharmed in the incident.

Schmitz said bus drivers have been notified to do a better job of scanning a pickup area before they leave it and they were told to remind their young students who ride their bus that if they miss a ride, like in this case, they should go into the school and ask an adult for help.

Schmitz said that because of this incident, this lesson will become part of the bus safety training provided for students each year.

"The short-term adjustments that our principal and bus driver coordinator have come up with seem to be appropriate for the situation and in the near future I'll be sitting down with them and evaluating whether these steps are appropriate," said Schmitz. "They seem very appropriate."

JODIE TWEED may be reached at jodie.tweed@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5858.