UPDATE: A 6-year-old boy was left alone in freezing temperatures for over an hour after being dropped off by a school bus in Country Club Hills, sparking outrage from his mother who is demanding answers. The incident occurred on December 6, 2023, when Akira Willis received a call from a neighbor around 4:30 PM, informing her that her son, Josiah, was left unattended at the corner of 192nd Court and Chestnut Drive.
Willis was shocked to learn that Josiah was dropped off at his regular stop instead of being taken to his after-school tutoring program at Sykuta Elementary School. Earlier that day, Josiah had expressed his desire to skip tutoring, leading school staff to place him on the bus without verifying adult supervision at the drop-off location.
“My neighbor called me and said she had my son, and I was confused,” Willis said. “Since when do we allow 6-year-olds to get off the bus by themselves without a parent present?”
Upon contacting the Illinois School Bus Company, Willis was told that drivers are required to return children to school if no adult is present at the stop. However, this protocol was not followed in Josiah’s case.
Country Club Hills School District 160 and Sykuta Elementary School have not responded to multiple requests for comment regarding this alarming incident. The school district’s failure to ensure child safety is raising serious questions about their policies and procedures.
This incident raises critical concerns about child safety during school transportation, especially as winter temperatures in Chicago drop dangerously low. Parents are understandably anxious about the well-being of their children when relying on school transportation systems.
As the situation develops, parents are urged to remain vigilant and ensure clarity in communication with school officials regarding their children’s transportation needs. The community is rallying for accountability from both the school district and the bus company to prevent such distressing incidents from happening again.
Stay tuned for updates as authorities investigate this incident, and parents are encouraged to voice their concerns to school officials. This developing story highlights the urgent need for safeguards to protect children during school transportation.
