[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=41808.57

Child Left On Bus; Two Quit

Stan Maddux
For The News-Dispatch

LA PORTE - A La Porte Community Schools bus driver and her assistant no longer have jobs after a 4-year-old girl was left alone on a school bus.

"A child was overlooked and that is not acceptable," La Porte Schools Assistant Superintendent Jim Dermody said.

The girl's mother, Crystl Lenz, said Tuesday her daughter, Haley, was hysterical at first but has calmed down.

"She's doing fine this morning," Lenz said.

She said her daughter is taken to a baby sitter every morning before she goes to work in Michigan City.

The baby sitter makes sure the girl boards the bus occupied by students in the Little Learners program, a preschool that's operated at La Porte High School.

Dermody said the bus dropped off the students about noon on Monday and headed back to the transportation garage at 201 Eighth St. Neither the driver nor the assistant on the bus checked to make sure all students were off before leaving, a violation of school corporation policy, he said.

The girl was asleep at the rear of the bus.

"All drivers are expected to make sure all students have exited the bus and there's no students left," Dermody said.

After waking up, Haley pushed open the school bus door and was spotted by another driver running around the transportation garage parking lot, Lenz said.

Dermody said the driver who spotted Haley took her to pre-school and her parents were contacted. He estimated the girl was alone for about five to 10 minutes.

Lenz, though, believes her daughter was on the bus by herself for as long as 30 to 45 minutes.

During the investigation, Dermody said the driver and the assistant resigned. Their identities weren't revealed.

"It's unfortunate that happened, but we're talking about a 4-year-old child that was absolutely left alone," Lenz said.

Dermody said it doesn't appear that any procedural changes are needed. There will be a meeting, though, to remind bus drivers to follow the policy, he said.

"The safety of our students has got to come first," Dermody said.

[Roger Kaputnik]

Only four years old, riding a bus...Doesn't someone that little belong with a parent?