Foster Elementary School in Allied Gardens neighborhood of San Diego has changed its bathroom break policy for transitional Kindergarten through first grade after a five-year old girl wandered away from campus Tuesday afternoon.
Principal Karla Shiminski told NBC 7 that around 2 p.m., the little girl was with a fellow student when she exited the school through an unlocked gate. Police say the girl walked several blocks to the Allied Gardens Pool after crossing Zion Avenue, which is known to have heavy traffic.
At the pool, employees noticed the girl by herself and called police. Police said by the time officers arrived, the school had been contacted and the girl was returned.
“I feel that’s very irresponsible on the school’s part. I mean how can a school lose a child?” said parent Denise Duncan. “I would freak. I would be so upset. I would be screaming and crying.”
In a statement, Foster Elementary School Principal Karla Shiminski wrote:
"At Foster Elementary, the safety and well-being of students is always our top priority. On Tuesday, two students went on a bathroom break, and one of them exited campus instead of returning to class. This happened under our former policy that allowed students to take bathroom breaks in groups of two. We have since updated that policy to require students in grades TK-1 be supervised by an adult anytime they are moving around campus. Each classroom in grades 2-5 will have a bathroom lanyard to give to a student when they leave and return from using the restroom, and colored passes for all other movement around campus (such as bathroom and nurse’s office). We have also added a new lock to the school gate to make sure the gate remains locked during school hours."
San Diego Police said, since the issue was resolved by the time officers arrived, they were advised of the incident but did not take police action.
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The school district said officials have notified the child’s parents.
