URGENT UPDATE: A mother in Country Club Hills, Illinois, is demanding answers after her 6-year-old son, Josiah Willis, was left alone in freezing temperatures for over an hour following a school bus drop-off. This alarming incident unfolded on December 6, 2023, around 4:30 PM when Josiah was unexpectedly sent home early from school.
Josiah was left at the corner of 192nd Court and Chestnut Drive, a location typically used for school bus drop-offs. However, he was supposed to be in an after-school tutoring program at Sykuta Elementary School. His mother, Akira Willis, received a call from a neighbor who found Josiah alone at the bus stop, leading to immediate confusion and concern.
Willis explained that Josiah had expressed a desire to skip tutoring that day. Consequently, school officials placed him on the bus and sent him home without ensuring an adult was present at the stop. “He was saying, ‘It was a man that dropped me off. He just let me get off the bus with nobody there,’” Willis recounted in disbelief.
This shocking incident raises serious concerns about child safety protocols. Willis immediately contacted authorities to question why a 6-year-old was dropped off without adult supervision. “I said, ‘So you guys just letting 6-year-olds get off the bus by themselves without any parent being present? Since when do we do that?’” she stated.
In response, Willis reached out to the Illinois School Bus Company in Crestwood. She claims she was informed that drivers are required to return children to school if an adult is not present at the designated drop-off point. Despite her efforts, both the bus company and Country Club Hills School District 160 have not yet commented on the situation, leaving parents and community members concerned about the safety of their children.
This developing story underscores the urgent need for clear and effective safety measures in school transport protocols. As temperatures drop, the potential dangers of leaving young children unattended in harsh weather conditions become even more alarming.
Parents in the area are advised to remain vigilant and ensure their children are picked up from school safely. This incident serves as a critical reminder of the responsibilities held by schools and bus companies regarding student safety.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story unfolds.
