Most people in SE Wisconsin know about the Sussex-Hamilton school district tragedy: a 4K student was run over and killed by a school bus. It's a horrible thing; the parents and the bus driver need prayers.
So how did that happen?
AJ Bayatpour of Channel 58 breaks through the fog.
While another news outlet told us that sixth-graders (!!!) were responsible for leading the little ones from one bus to another at a "transfer point", only Bayatpour fished out the whole story.
...Every morning, 4K students riding the bus went to Silver Spring Intermediate. Willow Springs students would then get off their buses and onto a different shuttle bus. Parents have since told reporters older students would act as chaperones in escorting younger kids to their shuttle.
Katona was hit by a school bus during the transfer process.
On Friday, Hamilton Superintendent Paul Mielke announced that beginning on Monday, Jan. 6, all 4K students will ride directly to Willow Springs. Moving forward, buses carrying 4K students will go straight to Willow Springs to drop off the youngest students first. The buses will then continue on to Silver Spring Intermediate School and individual elementary schools, according to the statement. ...
Not that the Brainiacs running the District didn't know about this Set-Up-To-Fail.
...One parent, who asked to be anonymous because she did not want to be seen publicly criticizing a district she still cherishes, said she immediately had questions last year when she learned her son would be transferring buses as a 4K student.
"You're taking these four-year-olds off the bus? How many are there?" she recalled thinking. "I was reassured that they have a process down, and that it sounds a lot scarier than it actually is. I do remember somebody said that to me."...
Basics: 1) Unless there is an emergency, children of ALL ages should never "transfer" from bus to bus. 2) An ADULT (volunteer or employee) should manage ALL discharges from buses at the schools. There is car traffic (and bus traffic) which is always a danger. Another district actually uses TWO adults to manage children crossing traffic lanes: one leading the kids, one following to make sure all of the kids get to their destination.
This system was NOT set up by the bus company. It was written by the District.
Someone needs to be fired.
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