BAKERSFIELD, CA- One central Bakersfield mom contacted 17 News after the scare of a lifetime Tuesday, when she got a call that a stranger had picked up her five year old son from school.
Kandace Lorimer is thankful her son is safe, but is questioning why she said Stella Hills Elementary School sent her son home with the wrong family. She kept her five-year-old son Kingston home after he left school Tuesday with a parent she doesn't know.
"He is pretty scared," said Lorimer. "I was up most of the night checking on him. He slept in bed with me cause I was worried."
Lorimer said Kingston's teacher told him to go home with a parent who she assumed was his grandmother, who often picks him up from school.
She said the teacher told her she didn't check the woman's ID and as a result, Kingston went home with the wrong parent. That parent happened to find an emergency contact card in Kingston's backpack.
"I always taught him to listen to his teacher and he did this one time and I mean the outcome could have been a lot worse," said Lorimer.
Bakersfield City School District said it is Stella Hills Elementary's practice to check parent ID's before allowing kindergarteners to leave campus.
We reached out to the district for comment from the Principal and the teacher, but have yet to hear back.
Lorimer said she did confront the teacher about what happened.
"All she could say was I'm sorry," said Lorimer.
She hopes other parents learn from what happened to her son.
"Make sure who's on the pick up list. Make sure that's the person that your child is going home with," said Lorimer.
Lorimer said she will send her son back to school once he is no longer afraid to return.
If you have a story you would like us to investigate, contact our newsroom at 283-1717 or visit our website at http://www.kerngoldenempire.com.
Kandace Lorimer is thankful her son is safe, but is questioning why she said Stella Hills Elementary School sent her son home with the wrong family. She kept her five-year-old son Kingston home after he left school Tuesday with a parent she doesn't know.
"He is pretty scared," said Lorimer. "I was up most of the night checking on him. He slept in bed with me cause I was worried."
Lorimer said Kingston's teacher told him to go home with a parent who she assumed was his grandmother, who often picks him up from school.
She said the teacher told her she didn't check the woman's ID and as a result, Kingston went home with the wrong parent. That parent happened to find an emergency contact card in Kingston's backpack.
"I always taught him to listen to his teacher and he did this one time and I mean the outcome could have been a lot worse," said Lorimer.
Bakersfield City School District said it is Stella Hills Elementary's practice to check parent ID's before allowing kindergarteners to leave campus.
We reached out to the district for comment from the Principal and the teacher, but have yet to hear back.
Lorimer said she did confront the teacher about what happened.
"All she could say was I'm sorry," said Lorimer.
She hopes other parents learn from what happened to her son.
"Make sure who's on the pick up list. Make sure that's the person that your child is going home with," said Lorimer.
Lorimer said she will send her son back to school once he is no longer afraid to return.
If you have a story you would like us to investigate, contact our newsroom at 283-1717 or visit our website at http://www.kerngoldenempire.com.