Fayette County, WV (WOAY) Parents of a Valley PK-8 kindergarten student are taking legal action against the Fayette County Board of Education and others, alleging their child was mistakenly placed on a school bus and later found alone in a public area.
According to the criminal complaint initially filed in Fayette County Circuit Court on September 1, school officials had been repeatedly provided with instructions about the child’s transportation arrangements.
The child’s parents filed a lawsuit naming the school bus driver, Valley PK-8 principal, the student’s teacher, and the Fayette County Board of Education as defendants.
According to the complaint, the parents completed transportation paperwork before the school year began, specifying their child would be picked up by a parent on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
The complaint states the student would ride the school bus to the parent’s workplace in Montgomery on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
The lawsuit alleges the school was given additional written and verbal clarification about those arrangements after a question regarding which bus the student rides.
According to the complaint, the parents again notified the school on Monday, August 24, that the bus tag was incorrect and the child was only authorized to ride the bus on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, with a note.
The complaint says that on Tuesday, August 25, the parent went to Valley PK-8 School to pick up their child as scheduled.
The lawsuit alleges the student’s name was called for approximately five minutes, but no one could find them.
The parent was then reportedly told by the child’s teacher that they had been placed on the school bus.
The plaintiff allegedly told the teacher that the workplace was closed and no one would be there to pick up the student.
According to the lawsuit, the teacher assured the parent that the child was safe and the bus driver would not leave them at an unattended location.
The parent reportedly relied on that assurance and stayed at the school to wait for their child to return.
The complaint states that at approximately 2:50 p.m., the parent received a call from an unknown Montgomery number, with the caller allegedly saying she had found the child alone in town.
The lawsuit alleges the incident has caused the child substantial fear, emotional distress, anxiety, and trauma.
The complaint brings claims including negligent hiring, supervision, and retention against the Board of Education, as well as a separate negligence claim against the defendants.
The plaintiffs accuse the school board of failing to properly train, screen, supervise, and monitor the employees involved.
The plaintiffs are demanding a trial by court, seeking compensatory damages.
