Found Safe

An elementary school child fell asleep on a Willow Springs School District bus and remained there until nearly 6:00 p.m. when she was found safe. 

Willow Springs Police Department officers responded to a call for service at approximately 5:44 p.m. on April 7. A mother contacted police because her 8-year-old daughter did not get off the school bus. 

Officer Kyle Parrish and Officer Jason Myers responded. Officer Parrish drove directly to the bus barn while Officer Myers searched elsewhere. A school employee met Office Parrish at the location, and the adults began searching for the girl.

They found her almost immediately, safe and sound on the bus. 

"She was awake. Calm at the time, but she had been crying," Officer Parrish told Howell County News. 

The girl was "in good spirits" when she was reunited with her mother at approximately 6:35 p.m., said Officer Parrish. 

It remains unclear to police exactly how long the child was alone on the bus before she was reported missing and found. Superintendent Bill Hall was also unable to provide the timeline in an interview Friday afternoon. 

"We're still investigating that," Hall said. 

"Our procedure was not followed," he offered by way of explanation. "Our procedure is to walk that bus."

The driver that day was substituting for the usual bus driver, Hall said. The superintendent would not divulge the driver's name, citing "potentially a disciplinary" exception to open personnel records under Missouri Sunshine Laws. The police deferred to the school to name the school employee. However, Hall did confirm that day's driver is "employed by the school."

To avoid a repeat of this incident, Hall said the district will continue to educate drivers on the importance of checking buses, but that their procedure is already in place to prevent scares like this. 

"It never should have happened. Thankfully, the child is safe," Hall said.

 

Bus Driver Shortage

The reason a substitute driver was working that day was because the shortage of bus drivers in the district is "severe," according to Hall. The shortage is a nationwide problem to which Willow Springs has not been immune. 

"It's a difficult job, but a full-time job with benefits," the superintendent said. 

Hall encouraged anyone who may be interested to apply for a job with the school's transportation director. No training is required. Hall confirms the school will pay for training for qualified applicants.