Memphis Mother Calls for School Safety Reforms After Son Goes Missing During Outing

Memphis Mother Demands Action After Son Goes Missing from School

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A Memphis mother is raising alarms after a distressing incident where her young son was reported missing from his elementary school. According to Shicari Norman, her son Kovi, who is just 3 years old, autistic, and non-verbal, was lost for what she describes as an alarming length of time, leaving her to question how the situation could have happened in the first place.

Norman expressed her frustration when she learned that Kovi, along with his class, was taken to a park near Bruce Elementary for a science experiment. However, due to what she believes was a lack of supervision, Kovi was inadvertently left behind as the group returned to school. “It was not only one teacher, it was two teachers,” she states, emphasizing that nobody seemed to be keeping an eye on her son during the outing.

A Shocking Discovery

Fortunately, two kind strangers driving by noticed Kovi wandering alone and immediately took action. They called Memphis Police and brought him back to the school, ensuring his safe return. However, the timeline of events raises serious concerns for his mother. She claimed she was not notified until about two hours after Kovi was reported missing, turning a challenging morning into a nightmare.

“They didn’t call us until about two hours later, that our son was missing, and that hurt the most because anything could have happened. Like, he is three years old, in the streets. It don’t make sense,” Norman expressed with an emotional weight that many parents can empathize with.

The Importance of Awareness

The incident has prompted Norman to call for better safety protocols and heightened awareness for children with special needs in schools. “I really appreciate those two young men that brought my son back to the school because these streets are not safe,” she remarked, highlighting the critical nature of community vigilance.

In the wake of this incident, Norman is advocating for increased training and awareness for teachers and staff to ensure that children, especially those requiring additional support, are never left in vulnerable situations. With Kovi not being able to communicate verbally, the potential hazards he could have faced are even more frightening for his family.

Seeking Answers

As the situation unfolds, there remains an unanswered question about how school officials handled the incident and how communication can be improved in the future. Parents like Norman deserve to know that their children are being cared for, especially when it comes to those with disabilities. Unfortunately, despite repeated attempts for clarification from the school district, no further details have been provided.

As parents, we all understand that a school environment should be a safe haven for our children. This incident serves as a stark reminder of the need for constant vigilance when it comes to supervision—especially in regards to young children who may not have the ability to advocate for themselves.

Conclusion

Shicari Norman’s experience is a call to action not only for the school district but for every parent and educator to recognize the importance of safety in schools. Enhanced training, better supervision practices, and improved communication could make all the difference in preventing similar incidents in the future. Parents deserve peace of mind knowing their children are safe while in the care of others, and efforts must be taken to ensure that this situation is not repeated.