Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
A Fayette County mother is demanding answers after she says her six-year-old son was mistakenly put on a school bus and dropped off alone in Montgomery despite written instructions that he was supposed to be picked up from school.
Megan Smith says her son Waylon, a kindergarten student at Valley Pre K-8, was found alone Tuesday outside the building where she works. A stranger who saw Waylon by himself stopped to check on him and contacted Smith by the phone number on his backpack.
“I got a call from a stranger in Montgomery who had found my son and said that he was in town alone,” Smith said.
Smith said she had arrived at the school that afternoon expecting to pick up Waylon. She said she gave the school a form stating that Waylon would be picked up on Tuesdays and Thursdays and would ride the bus to her workplace on other designated days.
But when students were dismissed Tuesday, Waylon never came out.
“I waited around and they hollered his name, and then a teacher came out and told me that they couldn't find him,” Smith said.
Smith said she was then told Waylon had been placed on a school bus.
According to Smith, Waylon's teacher had the written note showing he was supposed to be picked up that day but had received different instructions from the school's front office.
Smith said school staff told her the bus would bring Waylon back to the school, so she waited for him there.
Instead, she received a call from that stranger in Montgomery.
Security video provided by Smith shows Waylon outside the building, attempting to get inside and walking around the property. Smith said the video spans nearly nine minutes.
Waylon told his mother he knew she was not at work because he did not see her car in the parking lot. Smith said her son tried to look for the bus after realizing she wasn't there, but it had already left.
Smith said watching the security video was difficult.
“I immediately threw up,” Smith said. “Just the people walking by him while he was standing in the alley, and he kept flinching away from them and crying.”
She said Waylon told her he had tried to tell his teacher that he was not supposed to ride the bus Tuesday.
Smith is now questioning how the transportation instructions were changed and why her young son was allowed to get off a school bus without an adult there to meet him.
She said she met with school and transportation officials Wednesday morning and was told officials would review what happened and provide additional training on policies and procedures.
WCHS reached out to Fayette County Schools Wednesday seeking information about the district's policy for releasing young students from school buses, whether that policy was followed and what changes or disciplinary action may result from the incident, but after many attempts has not heard back at this time.
Smith also said Fayette County school officials told her the bus driver had been relieved of all duties. WCHS has not been able to independently confirm that information with the school district.
“I just hope they hold the parties responsible,” Smith said.
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A Fayette County mother is demanding answers after she says her six-year-old son was mistakenly put on a school bus and dropped off alone in Montgomery despite written instructions that he was supposed to be picked up from school.
Megan Smith says her son Waylon, a kindergarten student at Valley Pre K-8, was found alone Tuesday outside the building where she works. A stranger who saw Waylon by himself stopped to check on him and contacted Smith by the phone number on his backpack.
“I got a call from a stranger in Montgomery who had found my son and said that he was in town alone,” Smith said.
Smith said she had arrived at the school that afternoon expecting to pick up Waylon. She said she gave the school a form stating that Waylon would be picked up on Tuesdays and Thursdays and would ride the bus to her workplace on other designated days.
But when students were dismissed Tuesday, Waylon never came out.
“I waited around and they hollered his name, and then a teacher came out and told me that they couldn't find him,” Smith said.
Smith said she was then told Waylon had been placed on a school bus.
According to Smith, Waylon's teacher had the written note showing he was supposed to be picked up that day but had received different instructions from the school's front office.
Smith said school staff told her the bus would bring Waylon back to the school, so she waited for him there.
Instead, she received a call from that stranger in Montgomery.
Security video provided by Smith shows Waylon outside the building, attempting to get inside and walking around the property. Smith said the video spans nearly nine minutes.
Waylon told his mother he knew she was not at work because he did not see her car in the parking lot. Smith said her son tried to look for the bus after realizing she wasn't there, but it had already left.
Smith said watching the security video was difficult.
“I immediately threw up,” Smith said. “Just the people walking by him while he was standing in the alley, and he kept flinching away from them and crying.”
She said Waylon told her he had tried to tell his teacher that he was not supposed to ride the bus Tuesday.
Smith is now questioning how the transportation instructions were changed and why her young son was allowed to get off a school bus without an adult there to meet him.
She said she met with school and transportation officials Wednesday morning and was told officials would review what happened and provide additional training on policies and procedures.
WCHS reached out to Fayette County Schools Wednesday seeking information about the district's policy for releasing young students from school buses, whether that policy was followed and what changes or disciplinary action may result from the incident, but after many attempts has not heard back at this time.
Smith also said Fayette County school officials told her the bus driver had been relieved of all duties. WCHS has not been able to independently confirm that information with the school district.
“I just hope they hold the parties responsible,” Smith said.
_________________________________________
Follow WCHS on social media:
Facebook: facebook.com/eyewitnessnewscharleston
Twitter: twitter.com/wchs8fox11
Instagram: instagram.com/wchs8fox11
For the latest local and national news, visit our website: wchstv.com
Sign up for our newsletter: wchstv.com/sign-up
