First Student making changes after boy is left on school bus

UPDATE: ABC 17 News has confirmed First Student is making “personnel changes” after airing a story about a 4-year-old boy who was left on a Jefferson City school bus.

Mika Clardy says her son Makoto is a non-verbal special needs student who goes to Southwest Early Childhood Center. He fell asleep Thursday morning, but his mother says the driver did not see him until double-checking the empty seats in the lot.

ABC 17 News spoke with the bus company last week about what kind of precautions are in place to prevent something similar from happening again.

Mika Clardy said, “accidents happen. I’m just just thankful that Makoto’s OK, and I don’t want anyone to have to worry when they put their child on a bus, ‘Is he going to make it to school? Is she going to make it home?”

Last week First Student claimed it had disciplined the driver and monitor and promised to retrained them, but did not say anything further at that point.