Schenectady City School District

108EducationDrive

Schenectady,NY 123031238
BOARDOFEDUCATION CatherineA.Lewis,PresidentJohnFoley,VicePresident AndyChestnut EdKosiur RonaldC.Lindsay CherylNechamen AnnM.Reilly

Contact KarenCorona,PublicInformationOfficer SchenectadyCitySchoolDistrict Office:5183708100X40137 Cell:5188585610 eMail:coronak@schenectady.k12.ny.us March132014

OFFICEOF THESUPERINTENDENT LaurenceT.Spring Superintendent PatriciaPaser Assistantto theSuperintendent

STATEMENT & ACCOUNT OF EVENTS

Regarding Howe Kindergarten student who spent the day in the wrong school

Late yesterday afternoon, Schenectady City School District administration received a phone call from the parent of a Howe kindergarten student who was concerned because her child did not come home on the school bus. District administration immediately advised the mother to call the police who began to investigate at once. A short time later, after the school day ended, district administration learned that the student was at Yates school, the wrong school. She arrived in the morning and had spent the entire school day there. A series of events led to the student arriving and spending the day at the wrong school including the fact that the student misled school administrators and teachers by assuming the identity of a new student, one whom the school was expecting. We are very happy that the student was located and is fine. That is most important, said Superintendent Larry Spring. While the student did impersonate another student, which didnt raise any red flags, the situation has brought to light some other serious issues that need to be addressed on our end. These include making it very clear to parents what bus their children should board each day, improving the communication between substitute bus drivers and the school, an identification process for new students at school as well as communication with parents when students dont show up to school.

CENTRALOFFICE Tele:518.370.8100 Fax:518.370.8173

Web:www.schenectady.k12.ny.us

MORE EverybodyCounts;EverybodyLearns

Page 2 of 2 Spring said some of the confusion could have been avoided at the start of the day when the student boarded the wrong bus which was driven by a substitute driver. It can be confusing for both the bus driver and the parents when different buses with different destinations pick up kids at the same stop, said Spring. We are exploring ways to help make it clear to parents which bus their child should be riding each day, regardless of who is driving. He said it is also important for bus drivers to know who rides their bus each day and how they will communicate with the school if they learn that a child, who should not be on the bus, is aboard. Its about putting a more effective communication system into place, said Spring. We have to know where the kids are. When the kindergartener arrived at Yates, she was asked by name, if she was the new student who had not yet been to the school. She confirmed that she was. Yates school began the intake process at which time the student continued to assume the identity of a student who had not arrived yet. She responded by name and by writing that students name on papers throughout the day. Yes, she misled staff in the school, said Spring. While that was wrong, we have to remember that she is a kindergartener who was alone. Usually a new student is accompanied by a parent on the first day in a new school. This student however, got off the bus and confirmed that she was someone who she wasnt. While the district has not had issues like this in the past, in light of this incident, Spring said changes will be made when a new student arrives for the first time. We will be taking a close look at our school intake process and develop a system to ensure the identification of any new students as they enter the schools, said Spring. There was a series of events, that while unusual, we should have discovered where this child was. School and district administration have both been in contact with the childs mother to discuss the issues and talk about her concerns. We regret that Ms. Rodriguez spent yesterday afternoon worrying about her child, said Spring. I understand her concerns. Right now, we are taking a look at every angle, from the school bus stop in the morning , ensuring a student is who they say they are when they walk through the door for the first time and the ride home.

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