JMCSS admits child placed on wrong bus, family outraged

BEECH BLUFF, Tenn. — A school bus mix-up has some Jackson-Madison County parents outraged.

Corey and Laurett Bedwell said their 6-year-old son was put on the wrong school bus on the way home, Monday afternoon.  He’s a student at Beech Bluff Elementary School.  Instead of riding the bus to his grandmother’s, which he and his older sister have done for months, according to their parents, their son was put on the bus to the family’s home.

The Bedwells said the driver dropped off their son, then the bus made its usual turn around and passed by their home again.  They said the house was locked up tight with no cars in the driveway, but the bus driver kept going.  They said their son was found about a quarter of a mile away walking in a ditch, hysterically crying.  He told his parents he walked in the ditch because he knew it was dangerous to walk in the road.  He also said he was trying to walk back to school, about four miles away, so he could tell his principal the bus took him to the wrong place.

“For me to think about the negative things that could have happened to my child, I’m devastated,” said Laurett.  “My confidence is gone with the school system, at this point.”

According to the family, the only reason the school knew anything was wrong was because of their 7-year-old daughter.  She refused to get on the bus because her younger brother was missing and she knew something was wrong.  Her grandmother picked her up and they went in search of the 6-year-old.

The Jackson-Madison County School System released a statement via email Tuesday evening.  In it, the district confirmed the mix-up and said Superintendent Verna Ruffin has been in conversation with the principal at Beech Bluff.  It also said: ” The school staff was made aware of the mistake and followed the appropriate protocol by attempting to contact the bus driver and the family of the student. The student was located by a family member near the student’s home. We sincerely regret this has occurred and have taken steps to ensure that this does not happen again. The principal has been in contact with the student’s parent and has extended her apologies to the family.”

Corey said he is very upset with the district.  “It’s the teacher and administrators at the school’s responsibility to ensure the safety and security of our kids,” he stated.  “They failed.”