Mom calls for bus safety after daughter dropped off at wrong stop
AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) - It’s a new school year, and that means new challenges.
Some of the youngest students are riding the bus for the first time.
All school districts have policies and procedures to make sure they get on and off at the right stops.
Taylor McNatt says her daughter got on the bus just fine. But on Tuesday afternoon, she didn’t make it back to the right stop.
Heritage Academy welcomes students with red carpet
Wednesday was the first day of classes for Heritage Academy in Augusta, and staff rolled out the red carpet.
Now, McNatt is calling on parents of bus riders to pay attention.
The wheels on the bus do go round and round, but 4-year-old Sienna didn’t get all the way home.
“I’m gonna cry right now talking about it. It makes me worried because yesterday could have been the last time I ever saw my kid,” said McNatt.
McNatt says after fighting bus rider story nightmares, she finally gave in to letting Sienna ride and the first several days were smooth sailing.
SEE THE LETTER TO PARENTS:
“They went perfectly fine. We greeted the bus driver. The bus driver spoke to my daughter. She got on the bus, off the bus, perfectly fine. No issues,” said McNatt.
But on Tuesday, McNatt got a call from a stranger saying she found the Bayvale pre-K student miles from home.
“Instantly started crying. I literally was ugly crying. I had makeup all over my face just the thought of my child in the middle of the street where she has no idea where she is. I always wanted to hit the ground and out, like freaking out just thinking that my kid is screaming, crying in the middle of the road, terrified,” she said.
While the Richmond County School System tells us they are investigating, McNatt is calling on parents to use every resource possible to track your child.
“You’re the only person that’s gonna go to bat for your kid. You’re the only one who can fully protect them,” said McNatt.
2 Richmond County students caught with knives so far this week
Two Augusta students have been caught with knives this week, a few days after a gun was confiscated at Butler High School.
McNatt believes a name tag is what saved her daughter.
“With the tag on the book bag, always have some type of information, who your child is, where they live at all times. Because if my child didn’t have that yesterday, this would be a whole completely different situation,” she said.
We reached out to the Richmond County School System to learn how Sienna didn’t make it the right stop. They say right now it is under investigation.
Each school has a list of things you and your child can read through to make sure they are staying safe while riding to and from school.
- Columbia County: School Bus Tracker App
- Richmond County: StopFinder
Copyright 2024 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.
