Found Safe Kayla Durler, 17, Mistakenly sent to school when school was closed, Pittsburgh, 5 January 2024

[mickey2942]

Personally, I think that the liability is exactly why the school districts have determined to go with private providers to provide "transportation" for students. And that is what they do...transport from point A to point B. Classified as "bus drivers", not paras or special education providers. So, there is limited liability for everyone. Not the schools problem or the transportation provider.

I can see why this has evolved, from when I did IEP's, transportation was covered, with paras. Now, it is probably just general transportation, and probably need a designation of "most severely disabled" to qualify for special education transportation. Which, this gal, with Down Syndrome did not meet the stringent criteria for "most severely disabled".

All my own opinion.

 

[SassySquatch]

So many people failed this poor girl. Each story is more and more frustrating!

““ABC Transit’s driver then dropped Kayla off at the Jr./Sr. High School, watched her walk into the waiting area and sit down. Once Kayla was inside, the ABC Transit driver then departed the school,” said ABC Transit spokesperson.”

“While police told Channel 11 on Friday that Kayla did come in contact with a school staff member, the district said it is still investigating but there were staff members in the building at the time.”

Bus company offers insight after teen with Down syndrome dropped off at closed school

The company is accepting fault when it comes to miscommunication with Kayla’s driver which led to her being picked up for school.

www.wpxi.com

 

[Unalienable Rights]

According to the school, they notified the transit company that the school would be closed. I don't recall seeing that they notified the group home where Kayla lived. It seems to me that the procedure would be to notify the parents / guardians of the students if there was a school closure. If the group home knew that the school was closed, she would not (or should not) have boarded the bus when it erroneously arrived to pick her up.

 

[Springrain]

So many people failed this poor girl. Each story is more and more frustrating!

““ABC Transit’s driver then dropped Kayla off at the Jr./Sr. High School, watched her walk into the waiting area and sit down. Once Kayla was inside, the ABC Transit driver then departed the school,” said ABC Transit spokesperson.”

“While police told Channel 11 on Friday that Kayla did come in contact with a school staff member, the district said it is still investigating but there were staff members in the building at the time.”

Bus company offers insight after teen with Down syndrome dropped off at closed school

The company is accepting fault when it comes to miscommunication with Kayla’s driver which led to her being picked up for school.

www.wpxi.com

I don't even know what I can say at this point. SMH.

 

[Richrd]

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Project Lifesaver finds Allegheny County, PA Client
Seven (7) Minutes after Activation:

Deputies use special equipment to find older person who wandered away from Pittsburgh home

Special equipment helped sheriff's deputies find an elderly person who had wandered away from their home in Pittsburgh Wednesday.

www.cbsnews.com

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[mickey2942]

It would be so easy to just put an Apple air tag on her backpack or jacket. I am surprised that the residents in group homes don't have something like that as a fall back security plan.

 

[steeltowngirl]

So many people failed this poor girl. Each story is more and more frustrating!

““ABC Transit’s driver then dropped Kayla off at the Jr./Sr. High School, watched her walk into the waiting area and sit down. Once Kayla was inside, the ABC Transit driver then departed the school,” said ABC Transit spokesperson.”

“While police told Channel 11 on Friday that Kayla did come in contact with a school staff member, the district said it is still investigating but there were staff members in the building at the time.”

Bus company offers insight after teen with Down syndrome dropped off at closed school

The company is accepting fault when it comes to miscommunication with Kayla’s driver which led to her being picked up for school.

www.wpxi.com

Wait, what? Staff members inside the school saw her and then let her walk out to the street? It is a struggling school district, where dozens of teachers (and the principal) have quit in the past couple of years. Likely not relevant to this event, but still troubling.

Epic fail, but I’m trying to remain focused on the happy ending that KD was found safe, and that light has been shed on an issue with opportunity for future improvement.

jmo