HUMBLE, Texas – An Aldine Independent School District mother is seeking answers from the district after her child’s school bus was involved in an accident, and she was not informed about the incident by the school or transportation department.
“I leave my children with these people, you know, and I want them to let me know when something’s going on, or, you know, it’s just... Communication is key,” the parent said.
According to the district, seven students were checked out by EMS. It happened on Tuesday at Ogden Elementary School.
The parent, who spoke to KPRC 2′s Re’Chelle Turner, stated that her third-grade child, who attends Ogden Elementary School, typically arrives home from school between 4:15 p.m.
However, on Tuesday afternoon, the bus did not arrive until 5:30 p.m., causing the parent to worry.
Concerned about the delay, the mother attempted to contact both the school and the district’s transportation department but was unable to reach anyone.
“I called her school about three times, nobody answered. I tried to call transportation. There was like a long wait time of like 20 minutes. I’m guessing other people were probably calling, so I didn’t even get a hold of anyone,” she said.
Despite the mother’s repeated efforts to get in touch with the school and district, she received no response.
Fortunately, her child had a cell phone and was able to text, informing her that the bus had been involved in an accident.
“She normally gets home around like 4:15 or like the latest 4:30, but she never showed up. So I started to get worried and I decided to give her a call. She has her cell phone on her for emergency purposes only. So I reached out to her and that’s when she let me know that there was an accident with the bus,” she said.
Turner reached out to the school, stating that a callout was sent to parents.
A callout is a message the district sends out to parents when an incident occurs at a campus. The district added that it is sent via Blackboard. It goes to the most recent number the school has on file for the parent or guardian.
In response to questions about the incident, Aldine ISD emphasized that students are permitted to carry cell phones on campus for safety reasons, particularly before and after school hours.
The district’s policy allows students in most grades to have cell phones to ensure they can communicate during situations like this. However, cell phones are prohibited for students in grades PreK through Grade 1, and these younger students are required to be supervised by an adult or an older elementary-aged student at bus stops.
“I was trying to avoid her getting in trouble with her phone or anything like that. But this was an emergency. Yeah, I was like, I have to know. The school’s not letting me know anything, so I got to know,” she said.
To read more about the district’s cell phone policy, click here.
Turner has reached out to Aldine ISD for further comment on the situation:
“Aldine ISD is aware a bus carrying Ogden Elementary School students was involved in a minor accident on the campus grounds on Tuesday, Aug. 27. As a precaution, EMS was dispatched and examined seven students. No students were transported by EMS. Aldine ISD Police Officers were also dispatched and launched an accident investigation. The school did inform the parents of the students who were involved in the accident via a phone message Tuesday evening.
“Due to EMS and the police investigation, another bus was sent to the school to transport the students which delayed their arrival home. Aldine ISD apologizes for any inconvenience that may have been caused but wants to remind parents that the safety and security of its students and staff will always be the district’s top priority.”
Bus gets into second accident
Around 5:17 p.m., the parent reached back out to Turner and informed her about the same school bus being involved in another accident. It happened about 0.8 miles away from the school on Rayford Road.
Turner walked to the scene of the accident as police were investigating and parents were picking up their children. The district says a vehicle hit the bus and drove off. No one was injured.
The parent told Turner she received a phone call from the school about the incident.
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