Severe Safety Concerns at KISD School
Tuesday August 28 – updated Friday 31st11:00 am
Houston, Texas— Katy School District has it’s hands full with angry parents about bus service changes, but wait until you hear how “policy” at one school sent a 4-year-old girl to walk home by herself.
A Schmaltz Elementary parent is demanding to have the schools walking policy changed due to a terrifying event that took place on just the second day of school at Schmaltz Elementary.
“ I was given the wrong location by the staff, to meet my child in order to her up on the second day of school” says the girls mom, “I had no idea that it was policy to walk them to a street corner and tell them to go, I was told to meet her by the schools gym, and when I discovered the error it was too late!”
To make matters worse, the parent says she was left looking for her daughter alone, even though the teacher had a radio to call the office; no assistance was given to her by the school staff in this time of crisis, 911 was not called. Luckily, her quick thinking mother ran to her car after learning her daughter was told to walk by herself by the school teacher, and began driving down the road asking other parents if they had seen her daughter. Miraculously, the young girl was found safe by mom just a short time later. She had traveled 7 blocks from where she was left by the teachers, right past a registered sex offenders house as shown by the website FamilyWatchDog.us , and was a short 2 blocks away from the popular and dangerous Clay Rd.
When the parent confronted the school principle to ask how it was acceptable that a 4 year old be left to walk home alone, with out so much as a question by the teacher to verify that she should. The principle replied, “It’s our policy, that if you sign them up as a walker, that they are left to find their way home if a parent is not there to meet them within 10 minutes of the release bell.” However the parent can find no record of this policy in writing on the KISD website or in the parent handbook. There is also no mention of qualifications for walkers, such as age, or distance from school.
Fortunately no harm was done to this girl, but the parent is outraged at the response provided by the principle. “She doesn’t accept any responsibility for a poor system, nor for the miscommunication which caused this incident to start with.” Says the mom. “The current policy places children at risk, there is no separation between a child who must be met by a parent, and one who is allowed to leave on their own. There is no provision for an emergency situation, if the parent cannot get there in the 10-minute time frame. The school is knowingly putting their students at risk on a daily basis.”
She is demanding action to be taken to change the current policy, to address the needs of young students, and the communications and instructions given to parents prior to school starting. The mom also states that the principle has yet to express any sympathy over the situation, or inquire into how it has effected the young student, nor has she offered any school services such as counseling to the girl or the family.
Currently the mom is taking her daughter out of school prior to dismissal each day, in hopes that she can build her daughters confidence and trust in her teachers back with some positive experiences.
so scary. i hope she is able to make enough fuss to get the policy change.
WHAT????? I seriously would not let my daughter go back to that school. A four year old, walk home by herself? I don’t think so. I am just glad that she is safe and that nothing else happened.
omg!! that is SOOOOOOO crazy! and insane that they are allowed to leave just like that!! When I was teaching in Kindergarten the students would leave FROM the classroom, and the teacher has to see that the students are going with someone that they know. Seems insane to think that a 4-6 year old would even know how to walk home ALONE! Let alone a teacher instructing a child to GO HOME when she is crying for her mom!!
WOW. I’m so glad that something was wrote about this. I have a feeling I would have walked out of there in handcuffs. I. CANNOT. BELIEVE. THIS. I don’t care what policy (though it doesn’t seem they really have one) there is, if I would have walked that girl to the corner, there is no way I would have let her walk home alone, EVER. I would be calling the parent to question them about letting their four year old walk home alone! (Clearly, your friend didn’t, but if I were the person walking the child.) I personally would not be letting her go back to that school.
OMG! Clay Road is SUPER busy! I would be so hurt, scared, angry…everything. SO sorry to read this.
This is RIDICULOUS! As I read this I was so glad that her daughter is okay but I totally understand if she would immediately pull her out of that school! Totally ridiculous. So scary!
KISD is a sh##ty district… see this: http://www.katyzerotolerance.com/webedition2/Stories/Nemec.html
and this: http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Area-school-districts-scrambling-to-find-bus-3797129.php
and
http://www.texaszerotolerance.com/About/Evans_article/Evans_case_for_reform_3.html
You know, I never, ever considered moving to Texas to teach…mainly because of stuff like this.
I am completely shocked… 4 years old is the age of one of my daughters. Completely lacking any responsibility for poor actions and what an awful principal. Honest to goodness I would be finding myself a lawyer and making sure this never happens again. I hope she can build up some trust again.
OH! My! Gosh!
My stomach is reeling still after reading this. As a mother of 3 and my youngest being much older at the age of 11, I would be mortified to find out that they did that to my child…EVEN AT AGE 11!!!!
I really hope your friend is able to build the confidence back into her daughter sooner than later…how traumatic! How horrible…I’m so sorry to hear this and read that.
Besides that, and I’m not sure what the laws or bi-laws are in CO, but I thought a parent had to consent for a child {especially that young} to walk or take the bus.
How upsetting… 🙁
Kim M.