In a disturbing incident at a Lawrence daycare, staff members mistakenly left a child in a locked van during a field trip last Friday.
The child was left unattended for an extended period of time while the rest of the class attended the field trip.
As a result, Hilltop Child Development Center, a private, nonprofit daycare affiliated with the University of Kansas, has placed all field trips on hold while an investigation is conducted. This article details the incident, the center’s response, and the public’s reaction.
Incident Overview
On Friday, Hilltop Child Development Center staff unintentionally left a child in a locked van while the rest of the group attended a field trip.
The child, though upset, was unharmed when found. Hilltop’s Director of News and Media Relations, Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, confirmed the incident but declined to provide specific details, such as the duration of the child’s time in the van, the child’s age, or the number of children on the field trip.
The center reported the incident to both the Kansas Department of Health and Environment and the National Association for the Education of Young Children.
The daycare’s administration assured that corrective action would be taken, and future field trips were suspended while the center reviews its procedures.
| Key Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Incident Date | Last Friday, exact date not disclosed |
| Daycare Center | Hilltop Child Development Center |
| Child’s Condition | Upset but unharmed |
| Agency Notifications | Kansas Department of Health and Environment, NAEYC |
| Corrective Action | Under review |
| Field Trip Suspension | All field trips suspended until further review |
| Response from Authorities | KU Administration confirmed incident and corrective action |
The Reaction to the Incident
The incident has prompted strong reactions from the public, particularly from parents and concerned community members. John Faler, a Lawrence resident, expressed his disbelief, questioning how such a mistake could happen.
While his child does not attend Hilltop, he believes incidents like this are entirely avoidable. Faler’s concerns were echoed by others who expressed their discomfort at the situation, calling into question the procedures in place at the daycare.
One key point of concern raised by parents and community members is the importance of accountability in daycare staff.
Faler noted the steps parents often take to ensure the safety of their children, including counting children after a field trip, making sure everyone is accounted for. This situation stands in stark contrast to that practice.
Hilltop’s Response
Hilltop Child Development Center has acknowledged the error, issuing a statement about the incident. The center notified the child’s parents immediately, and the child was returned to their family.
Hilltop has also communicated with other families at the daycare, ensuring transparency in their response. In addition, the center has suspended all field trips while it investigates the incident.
Erinn Barcomb-Peterson, speaking on behalf of Hilltop, stated that the center was reviewing the details of the incident, as well as its overall policies and procedures.
She emphasized that corrective actions would be taken to prevent such an incident from happening again.
The incident involving a child left in a locked van at Hilltop Child Development Center has sparked concern in the Lawrence community.
As the investigation progresses, Hilltop is taking necessary steps to review its safety procedures and ensure that this type of error is not repeated.
Parents and community members will be closely watching the outcome, hoping that this incident leads to stronger accountability measures and a renewed commitment to child safety at daycare centers.