LAPLACE — While shopping for her daughter Brialle’s 5th birthday Sept. 15, Dara Bouy got a call no parent ever wants to receive from the babysitter. Her daughter, a kindergarten student at LaPlace Elementary School, hadn’t gotten off her afternoon bus, and no one knew her whereabouts or if she was safe.

It was the third incident of the school year and the scariest yet, as it was the first time Brialle was completely unaccounted for.

The second day of school, Aug. 17, she was left in the cafeteria as buses left school. On Aug. 20, she was brought back to LaPlace Elementary after being placed on her morning bus instead of taking the afternoon route to her nanny’s house.

Kindergartners are required to wear bus number tags on their schoolbags, but they are not closely monitored, Bouy said.

According to Bouy, assistant principal Shelly Chauvin helped her search school grounds Sept. 15 and said the next step was to contact the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office. Luckily, within the hour, Brialle was returned to school on a different bus.

Bouy said she found out a new teacher asked her daughter to wait in the cafeteria while she brought other children to the bus, and it was during that time frame that Brialle hopped on a different bus.

“I went into panic mode and almost had an anxiety attack,” Bouy said. “It’s the scariest feeling in the world to not know where your child is.”

The third incident lit a fire under Bouy and prompted her to take action to ensure no parent worries about his or her child’s safety within the school’s transportation system.

“I want to feel like the kids’ safety is the No. 1 priority, but right now I don’t think it is,” Bouy said. “I think the bus drivers and teachers have become too complacent with routines and don’t take the time to notice the kids.”

Bouy said she’s had discussions with other parents who faced similar problems with the bus system, particularly with kindergartners, and she encourages everyone to speak up.

“Don’t just sit on it. Do something,” she said. “A lot of parents don’t put in the effort, or maybe they just don’t know their rights. If you’re not your child’s advocate, no one else will be.”

She said LaPlace Elementary Principal Dr. Fawn Ukpolo has been helpful in trying to resolve the problem.

At Bouy’s request, she has reached out to the school district’s transportation department.

Superintendent Kevin George said Steve Vales, supervisor of transportation, will meet with LaPlace Elementary staff to ensure no child is misplaced again.

In addition, he said there will be a push to make sure staff stays alert and checks nametags and bus numbers during dismissal. Bus drivers, including substitutes, will be given updated student rosters.

“There’s no excuse for a child not getting on the proper bus,” George said. “We’re taking corrective measures at LaPlace Elementary and other schools to make sure there are no more problems. On behalf of the District, we apologize to Ms. Bouy.”

Bouy said she has started looking into the process of running for School Board to continue advocating for students.

— By Brooke Robichaux