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Mom says her son was dropped at wrong bus stop

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Mom says her son was dropped at wrong bus stop
A West Des Moines mother, whose son attends a Waukee elementary school, wants answers after she said her son was left outside in the cold at the wrong bus stop.Jennifer Cabanayan said her 6-year-old son was dropped off at the wrong stop about one tenth of a mile from home."I want an apology," said Cabanayan.The family just moved to the Waukee School District. She said the boy didn't know how to get home and was outside in below freezing temps for more than an hour.When her son didn't get off the bus, Cabanayan called police and the school district while searching the immediate area for the boy. Police soon arrived and assisted in looking for her son."For him to be out in this weather for over an hour for his small body was traumatizing. He thought his fingers were going to fall off," said Cabanayan. "He tried everything he could by putting them in his mouth."Michelle Saddoris spotted the emotional first grader as he tried to reach help."When I asked him to get in my car, he said he tried and he said I can't because my hands are too cold," said Saddoris.Durham School Services handles transportation for the Waukee School District.Local representatives from the company did not want to comment and referred KCCI to its corporate office in Illinois. The corporate spokesperson didn't answer our specific questions and only stated that the company is reviewing the incident.According to district policy, an authorized guardian must be present for a kindergarten or first grade student to be released from the bus. That didn't happen Thursday.Cabanayan said she was shocked to see the same bus driver behind the wheel Friday morning."I went to her woman-to-woman just to ask her 'Do you have any remorse for what you did?' There was no remorse on her face," said Cabanayan.Waukee School Superintendent David Wilkerson told KCCI that the bus driver in question was reassigned to a different route."Student safety is always our top priority," said Wilkerson. "That expectation is the same whether we are talking about transportation, food service or the teacher in the classroom. We take any incident very seriously, and work with all parties involved to resolve issues as they arise and improve our practices."Durham Service's local office didn't want to comment on this story. They referred us to the corporate office.A spokesperson only told us that they are reviewing the incident.

A West Des Moines mother, whose son attends a Waukee elementary school, wants answers after she said her son was left outside in the cold at the wrong bus stop.

Jennifer Cabanayan said her 6-year-old son was dropped off at the wrong stop about one tenth of a mile from home.

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"I want an apology," said Cabanayan.

The family just moved to the Waukee School District. She said the boy didn't know how to get home and was outside in below freezing temps for more than an hour.

When her son didn't get off the bus, Cabanayan called police and the school district while searching the immediate area for the boy. Police soon arrived and assisted in looking for her son.

"For him to be out in this weather for over an hour for his small body was traumatizing. He thought his fingers were going to fall off," said Cabanayan. "He tried everything he could by putting them in his mouth."

Michelle Saddoris spotted the emotional first grader as he tried to reach help.

"When I asked him to get in my car, he said he tried and he said I can't because my hands are too cold," said Saddoris.

Durham School Services handles transportation for the Waukee School District.

Local representatives from the company did not want to comment and referred KCCI to its corporate office in Illinois. The corporate spokesperson didn't answer our specific questions and only stated that the company is reviewing the incident.

According to district policy, an authorized guardian must be present for a kindergarten or first grade student to be released from the bus. That didn't happen Thursday.

Cabanayan said she was shocked to see the same bus driver behind the wheel Friday morning.

"I went to her woman-to-woman just to ask her 'Do you have any remorse for what you did?' There was no remorse on her face," said Cabanayan.

Waukee School Superintendent David Wilkerson told KCCI that the bus driver in question was reassigned to a different route.

"Student safety is always our top priority," said Wilkerson. "That expectation is the same whether we are talking about transportation, food service or the teacher in the classroom. We take any incident very seriously, and work with all parties involved to resolve issues as they arise and improve our practices."

Durham Service's local office didn't want to comment on this story. They referred us to the corporate office.

A spokesperson only told us that they are reviewing the incident.