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53 °F Forecast | Road Cams Wednesday, April 27, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend April 27, 2005 Lost child was asleep in back of bus Girl’s mother was upset when her daughter didn’t get off at her normal bus stop By JACK MORAN Mail Tribune Ashland schools Superintendent Juli DiChiro says she understands why parent Tracy Lane became upset last week when Helman Elementary officials were unable to immediately locate her daughter. But DiChiro also says a substitute bus driver who could not see Lane’s 6-year-old daughter asleep in a seat during a ride home acted quickly and appropriately after the bus was parked and the girl was located, safe and sound. "I wouldn’t say it’s anyone’s fault," DiChiro said. "We’re very sorry this happened. ... We never want to worry parents. It’s scary for them to not know where their child is, and I don’t blame (Lane) for being concerned." Lane’s daughter, a first-grader at Helman, boarded a bus last Wednesday after she was "checked in" by a school official who keeps track of which children ride the bus home after school, DiChiro said. But when the bus arrived at the girl’s regular stop near her daycare provider’s home, she was nowhere to be found. DiChiro said while at the stop, the driver scanned the bus, called out the girl’s name and asked other children if she was there before finishing the route. Advertisement Because the girl did not arrive as expected, her daycare provider called Helman officials. DiChiro said a school office manager checked the campus and called the district "bus barn," where the driver had just found and awakened the girl. "She was curled up on a bus seat, so (the driver) couldn’t see her," DiChiro said. "As soon as she stopped the bus, (the driver) checked. ... I don’t think there was any safety violation. (The girl) was never by herself on a locked bus." Lane said the search for her daughter lasted longer than an hour. DiChiro believes the girl was located about 15 to 20 minutes after she failed to get off the bus at her normal stop. Lane, who said she spoke with school and district officials about the incident, claims she has been made to feel as if she is overreacting by saying more should have been done to find her child. "I am upset no one knew where my daughter was," said Lane. "They act like I’m being unreasonable, and put (the responsibility) on (the girl)." Lane said she may petition the district school board for more stringent safety measures. "I want them to change their policies, because their policies are unsafe," she said. "The answer I keep getting is, ‘She’s OK, so what’s the big deal?’ " Helman officials have already made a change on the bus used by Lane’s daughter. For now, the girl will sit in a front seat, in plain sight of the bus driver, DiChiro said. While children occasionally fall asleep on the bus, DiChiro said she doesn’t recall any previous incidents like the one involving Lane’s daughter. Reach reporter Jack Moran at 776-4459, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Slippers Student Loans Tatoo tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Tatoos Advertisement s