A mother requested a special pick-up for her child Monday for the day only. She called to make another change but that message was never passed on to the teacher.
Now, the mother is trying to understand what happened to her child after he was released to walk home from Planz Elementary School.
“My son stated that a stranger actually drove him home because a stranger saw him crying the whole way home,” the mother said.
The mother said she sent a note with her 6-year-old, asking for a "gate pickup". When she called to confirm the teacher had received the note, the school told her the request meant he would walk home alone.
“I told them no, I don't want my son walking home because he's never walked home before,” she said.
She said the office told her they would notify the teacher of her second request, but that never happened and the child was released with the students that walk home alone. The 6-year-old later told his mom that he was picked up by a stranger.
“What could have happened to my kid, who's this guy he went with. They could have kidnapped him. I was mad. I was very upset,” the mother said.
The Greenfield School District said the parent did call, but that it seems the teacher was never notified. The district is looking into the miscommunication.
“In the event that there's a breakdown, along the way we're working with human beings so absolutely we refer that as a personnel matter and make sure we address it in that fashion,” Greenfield School District Assistant Superintendent Luke Hogue said.
Still, the person who took her child home is a mystery.
The mother said she's just glad whoever gave him a ride took him home safely and hopes for better communication with the district.
“Next time it might not turn out so good. Next time it might be a child missing, over something simple like miscommunication,” she said.
The district said they are going to follow up with the parent, student and attendance staff at the school to find out why the teacher was never notified of the changes.
