BURRILLVILLE – The bus company serving the school district says that staff followed policy during an incident last week in which an elementary school student was discovered after the vehicle returned to the bus yard.
The incident took place during the afternoon run on Tuesday, April 18, when a first grade student from AT Levy Elementary School did not get off at the appropriate stop. Parents called the school and the child was transported home.
Supt. Michael Sollitto noted that there was a driver shortage that day.
“Due to this, some bus groups were consolidated and students were assigned to multiple buses that are not their ordinary bus assignments,” Sollitto said, noting that the student was never left alone in the vehicle.
DATTCO Branch Manager Sharon Brunelle said the bus driver acted appropriately, and the child was discovered in the vehicle.
“The student was never on the bus without the driver,” said Brunelle. “I would like to add that the driver was following DATTCO policy.”
Brunelle noted that every DATTCO driver is required to complete a child check, “using the latest in bus safety technology,” upon return to the yard,
“The system requires the driver confirm a complete bus check before the bus can be powered down, at that time the student was discovered and immediately transported to his home,” Brunelle said.
