wow... the kid must be mortified. I've walked into the wrong classroom before.. but the wrong school? geeze

I feel really sorry for the kid, but I don't think it should have counted as an unexcused absence. The kid was scared to death and very confused as he was in a place that he didn't know and he didn't know any friends or teachers or anything. He was really young and these things can traumatize a kid that young. IT is definitely an excuse to bring your kid home so he can relax and recover. I really hope HCPS fixes this problem and the kid gets better. By the way I think they should send him to Prospect Mill since he already knows the teacher and some of his classmates.

Did the bus originally take him to Prospect Mill and someone else took him from there to Churchville, or did the bus take him right to Churchville? I'd be livid either way, but I'm just trying to understand how this even could have happened. HCPS has some explaining to do, both to the affected family, and to the public.

This is absolutely appalling. A parent in the Harford County Public School system puts their child on the bus in good faith that he/she will arrive at the school in their district. I find it bafflling that a bus on this child's street could, potentially, be sent to more than one school! It is outrageous that, through no fault of his own, he's being charged with an unexcused absence. Come on Harford County! If you have to redistrict and scare small children on the first day of school, have the decency to apologize and make some allowances for absence.

Sounds to me like the Harford county school system kidnapped this child as I don't recall reading that the mother signed a permission slip for her child to be transported to another school. Yet another example of how poor our school system's management is. They couldn't even make a decision on whether or not to close schools the other day until almost eight o'clock in the evening. Way to go HCPS. Be thankful you didn't do this to my child because I wouldn't be as nice as this woman.

Could he possibly have gotten on the wrong bus? I know in my neighborhood, which is on the edge of the Aberdeen and HDG districts, there are buses from Aberdeen, HDG and Tech that use my street. I would always double check the number, and ask the driver what school they were going to on the first day. I almost sent my son to the wrong school one year. If the driver is not experienced and familiar with the route, it could easily happen.

Wow,god forbid mistakes be made! Let us all remember, the school board is operated by people. And people make mistakes. Atleast the error was noticed,and corrected. And hey, its not like he got dropped off at Edgewood Elementary, now then I'd be scared!

Woah Steve & Bill - go back where you came from - absolutely nothing wrong with Edgewood Elementary - I know plenty of people there and they are good people! well grounded more than some I know from the other areas. Give the kid a break, shouldn't be penalized for a mistake made by the school system, he should have the day to recover. Before everyone starting judging everyone......let the whole story come out. A mistake was made and good thing is, the kid was dropped off at a school! not like he was left on a street somewhere. Hope it all works out for the family!

As a parent of a 1st grader, who attends Prospect Mill, I am appalled this could be allowed to happen & than the total lack of caring & understanding applied by school adminastrators by telling the Mom the child would be marked unexcused. Also love the fact the "Manager of Communications" (fancy title for a spokesperson, I wonder if he gets a fancy salary too) was not available for comment on this situation. The leadership of this school system has been questionable @ best since Tombeck arrived from Baltimore County. From putting kids in danger last winter when opening schools on time when the roads were treacherous @ best, to the redistricting situation to now this. What type of school system are you running Superintendent Tombeck? I was a little mad yesterday when my son's bus didn't pick him & the other kids up from their bus stop on time. The bus driver said she was told another bus would be doing their stop, & then after calling HCPS transportation, they said the bus had already made the run & they then sent the bus back @ 908 am to pick the kids up & get them to school, of course now late on the 1st day! But that is nothing to the anger I would have felt if this was my child & then the response & lack of caring from school officials!

I just hope the child isn't traumatized. Another example of our lovely tax dollars at work in Harford County.

As the mother of a child in the HCPS, this is simply not acceptable. Yes, mistakes happen. But this child's mother should have been contacted IMMEDIATELY. Not after a group of random strangers (as far as the 6 year old is concerned) and a guidance counselor "calm" him down and then send him on his way to class. I know the child and parent involved personally, it breaks my heart to think of how scared he must have been to walk into an unfamiliar place on the first day of school. Trent also had asked for his mother, instead of calling her they had him calmed down by someone else and sent to class. We parents are forced to trust the teachers and school officials we send our children off to each morning, it's very scary to think something like this can happen, and did. Thank you for reporting on this, Sean. It's something people need to know about!

I had a similar situation happen with my daughter. I found the Churchville School administration to be very unapologetic and rude. My husband and I tried contacting the school administration and left 4 messages before receiving a call-back. Although, our situation was not as extreme as Mrs. Baldwin's I can relate to her frustration.

Thank u all for your comments and concern. Trent is fine he was basically brainwashed by Churchville elementary school staff that it was all fine. And yes Maggie i understand your frustrations also. Churchville treated me like i was a bad parent because i was taking him for the day. They told me he doesnt need to go home that he is fine all is fine. And no he wasnt put on the wrong bus we only have one bus for our street , it was the same bus and driver that drove him to Prospect mill last year . When the redistristing was done our bus route was moved to Churchville in which so were the children. But they never mentioned that to me or Prospect mill. Trent is now going to Prospect mill he is happy to be back with his friends the only downside is now i have to drive him to and from school. When i went directly to the administration office i spoke with someone, and she was very nice in the situation and did apologize, And worked quickly to fix our situation. The only thing she couldnt tell me was y i wasnt called as soon as my son arrived at that school and said he doesnt go there. She said maybe they were waiting for attendance to finish up. Well in that case y did i not get a phone call till 10:15. I really think the school system thinks they can do whatever they want and WE as parents shouldnt be involved unless they need money or supplies. It is crazy to think that my child was at the wrong school for 2 hrs before i knew. Thank u Sean U did a great job :)

Well I am glad to hear that your son is doing fine and that he got to go to Prospect Mill, where he's comfortable and has friends and teachers he knows.

Thank you for the update. I am so glad that your son was fine and able to go back to PMES. People fall throught the cracks - I am sorry that your son did. I also hope his absence gets excused - crazy. The first grade teachers at PMES are wonderful and will take great care of him.

if your not a parent, dont comment, mistakes happen butour school system should be better at taken care of children, schools have been around for a long time, kim-god bless you for not gong completely off, i would have, hug trent for me

going

Kim, I can't believe that Trent had to go through this! I am so sad for him.. he missed his 1st day because hcps forgot about a child! Smh!!! Happy that he gets to stay with his friends :^)

HCPS responded Thursday. Here's an update: http://patch.com/A-lDsX

Yes, i have kids, both of which are in elementary school. My point in this whole thing is the over-sensitivity of parents. There was no malicious intent behind the incident, therefore, how can anyone be so upset at the school system? Everyone today seems to forget that mistakes can be made, and not everything is perfect. Whenever something happens that brings people out of their little bubble, all hell breaks loose. And, "Oh, how terrible, mistakes just cant be made! And the staff was rude to me! How dare they?!" What a joke! I guess none of you have ever made an error, or been "rude" to someone at your job? I know thats not true, because Im pretty sure I've been to the McDonalds you work at. And as for the Edgewood comment. I meant nothing about the administration, nor anything racial. All Im referencing is the area in general, wether its for school, or residence. Tell me Edgewood isnt "bad" and I'll show you a million things to the contrary.

Does anyone else think that SNAFU should not be used in an article that school children will be reading and asking what it means?

Situation
Normal
All
Fouled
Up

hazzard native that is awesome I honestly never knew that is what it meant just goes to show one is NEVER to old to learn:)