A preschool student at North Nimishillen Elementary School was left unattended in a school transportation vehicle for about an hour Thursday after district procedures were not followed, according to Louisville City Schools Superintendent Michele Shaffer.
In a letter sent to families on Aug. 28, Shaffer said the child was discovered when the driver was preparing for the afternoon pickup route. The student was unharmed, and the family was notified immediately.
“We know this should never have happened,” Shaffer wrote. “The safety of every child entrusted to us is always our highest priority, and today we fell short of that responsibility.”
The district is reviewing its procedures and will retrain all transportation staff, including substitutes, to ensure safeguards are followed, Shaffer said. Staff members involved in the incident have been placed on leave while the district conducts a thorough investigation.
“We are committed to strengthening our systems and doing everything in our power to ensure this never happens again,” Shaffer wrote.
