Parents, what would you expect?

[Anewman]

Originally Posted by annegal
I'm curious as to how long school officials stay at the school after closing at the school your child attends????

Most schools, the office staff is not there more than 30-45 minutes after last bell. It seems all parents should be able to call their kids' cell phone or the coach's cell phone?

Does it matter? If there is someone there, they should have a reference list to refer to. Easy solution to the misinformation given by school staff.

Of course it matters...

if no one answered the phone, the OPs daughter was still missing. Regardless of MISSinformation given by the school or not. If it would help avoid situations...

If coaches are typically onsite later than office personnell, they should be allowed to field phone calls by the team members parents.

I just find it funny that it is not the norm, our kids almost always get the coaching staffs contact info passed out to them at first practice just in case they can not attend practice(or other) and notify the coach. And if that does not happen I have them ASK for it. Because any time they miss a practice/game/fundraiser without an excuse, they will be running bleachers the next day.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Of course it matters...

if no one answered the phone, the OPs daughter was still missing. Regardless of MISSinformation given by the school or not. If it would help avoid situations...

If coaches are typically onsite later than office personnell, they should be allowed to field phone calls by the team members parents.

I just find it funny that it is not the norm, our kids almost always get the coaching staffs contact info passed out to them at first practice just in case they can not attend practice(or other) and notify the coach. And if that does not happen I have them ASK for it. Because any time they miss a practice/game/fundraiser without an excuse, they will be running bleachers the next day.

It doesn't matter in this case. This is the case at hand. Someone did answer the phone. The misinformation that was given was the root of the problem.

 

[Anewman]

It doesn't matter in this case. This is the case at hand. Someone did answer the phone. The misinformation that was given was the root of the problem.

So you do not think that being able to call the coach directly "IN THIS CASE" would have helped

 

[OceanAnnie]

So you do not think that being able to call the coach directly "IN THIS CASE" would have helped

In this case, if I'm not mistaken the coaches don't take calls nor are the students allowed their cell phones. That's the school's decision.

Actually, I responded with, "Does it matter?" to Annegal's question: "I'm curious as to how long school officials stay at the school after closing at the school your child attends????". My circumstance has no bearing on what happened to the OP.

There was someone answering the phone at the OP's school. IMO that's what matters. It's my opinion. It's also my opinion that if someone is going to answer the phones, they should give out the right information. I'm just funny like that.

 

[Anewman]

In this case, if I'm not mistaken the coaches don't take calls nor are the students allowed their cell phones. That's the school's decision.

Yes that is EXACTLY Annegal's point, it would have solved all issues dealing with the "case at hand."

Actually, I responded with, "Does it matter?" to Annegal's question: "I'm curious as to how long school officials stay at the school after closing at the school your child attends????". My circumstances has no bearing on what happened to the OP.

Yes you responded to a question with a question, I get it.
IMO she has a very valid point...
If school officials leave at 3:30pm and practice ends at 4:30, they would not be there to pass out information(right or wrong) after 3:30.
That maybe why she added, "It seems all parents should be able to call their kids' cell phone or the coach's cell phone?"

There was someone answering the phone at the OP's school. IMO that's what matters. It's my opinion. It's also my opinion that if someone is going to answer the phones, they should give out the right information. I'm just funny like that.

Again if the coach was allowed to take calls, he would have obviously given out the correct information.

But I respect you opinion, if you feel it is more important to have 2nd and 3rd hand information be handed to parents by persons that may or may not be there after a given time is more "pro-active" than changing a policy in order to cut out the middle man...

Well I respect your opinion.

 

[Hannathy]

Could you just imagine the chaos if coaches and kids were allowed to answer phones during practice, talk about not getting anything done! I want my kids coaches coaching and paying attention to the practice not on the phone and the same with the kids. Before practice starts great as soon as it starts off they go.

 

[OceanAnnie]

But I respect you opinion, if you feel it is more important to have 2nd and 3rd hand information be handed to parents by persons that may or may not be there after a given time is more "pro-active" than changing a policy in order to cut out the middle man...

Well I respect your opinion.

No problems.

I was addressing what happened. Someone answered the phone. I was also addressing what transpired, inaccurate information. It wasn't a question of "may or may not being there", it was what it was. It isn't impossible or unreasonable to have accurate information put forth from the staff.

But I do wonder how coaches can coach while handling cell phone calls.

They are all a moot points anyway. The administration didn't seem too willing to change anything or even admit they had a communication problem. The asst. principal hung up on the OP! That is a problem in itself.

 

[Anewman]

But I do wonder how coaches can coach while handling cell phone calls.

They are all a moot points anyway. The administration didn't seem too willing to change anything or even admit they had a communication problem. The asst. principal hung up on the OP! That is a problem in itself.

The OP does not call school on a daily basiss, I doubt parents would call the coach any more often than that either. I do not think I have ever called during practice, maybe an hour or two prior just to verify schedules and such. But my thinking is that it is more important for a concerned parent to be able to locate a son/daughter, a slight distraction of the coaching should have to be accepted.


But yes it is a problem that the school takes no action period.

 

[kaw1218]

I would want an apology.
Two years ago my kids entire bus went missing. I was sitting at the bus stop with a few other parents where 8 kids are supposed to be dropped off at 3:45pm...... I called the school at 4, 4:10, 4:15...and at that point they still didn't know where the bus was and after the 3rd call I refused to hang up. My kids were in 3 and K. the school is about 1/2 mile from my house. No one knew where the bus or the kids were! They wanted to keep telling me to wait a few more minutes, it should be there shortly. Finally at 4:40 it showed up! Very scary! Apparently the driver decided to take a tour of our town. Even after questioning the kids, we still don't know what was going on. I didn't let my kids back on the bus until they got a different driver.


Just out of curiousity, Mskanga, what part of PA are you in?

 

[Mskanga]

I'm curious as to how long school officials stay at the school after closing at the school your child attends????

Most schools, the office staff is not there more than 30-45 minutes after last bell. It seems all parents should be able to call their kids' cell phone or the coach's cell phone?

In our schools there's always one person in the office until 6 pm , in fact I waved the person in the office goodbye on friday while I was waiting for my daughter to return from their away game.

So what happens when school staff is given misinformation? As an example...childs practice is at a certain time and ends at a certain time. Parent calls school to ask what time practice gets out, school gives the time that they have. BUT, it was decided that practice would run longer or shorter at the last minute and no one informed school staff about it....or practice was moved to anither location for one day onely and no one informed school staff. How then is the school responsible for the misinformation that they had.

Our practices have always been in the same place and same time , that never changed but if the practice changed one day to a different location , normally parents would be told the day before. Practices have never ran longer because kids need to get back on the last bus.

THe OP stated that the teenager was missing and that NOBODY knew where she was. I am under the impression that she was where she was supposed to be, at her practice. I would not expect the office to know where 100's of students are AFTER school. That would truly be impossible. So it looks to me like the OP is the one who didn't know where she was, which is a lot different than NOBODY knew where she was.

The only thing you got right there is that my daughter was where she was supposed to be , but nobody ( other than the assistant coach who is the one that was doing the practice that day ) knew where she was at , if the school knew where she was , why would they not tell me?
And no it is not impossible to find out where children are especially when the parents give the information of where they are supposed to be , all it takes is one phone call , and don't say why didn't I place the call because once again I will say the school prohibits coaches from giving out their personal cell phone #'s out to parents.

I don't believe in holding the school staff responsible for issues that didn't originate with them. Just my .02

I am not holding them responsible for giving out the wrong information , I am holding them responsible for not doing more than just paging in a building to find my daughter , the wrong building I may add.

So you do not think that being able to call the coach directly "IN THIS CASE" would have helped

Again the school prohibits the coaches of giving out their personal cell phone #'s out to parents , so where did you want ME to call ?

The OP does not call school on a daily basiss, I doubt parents would call the coach any more often than that either. I do not think I have ever called during practice, maybe an hour or two prior just to verify schedules and such.

I have never called the coach , in fact the only time I ever called her was during school time and it was to let her know that my daughter had fallen in school and broken her collarbone and she would no longer be able to play that season. And I do not call my daughter either , she calls me after practice or game.

IMO the parents and staff should work as a team in the capacity that they can. I'm not thinking "blame" here. I'm thinking of how they could be pro-active in this case.

The answer is really simple , they could have placed the same call that the other coach placed to my daughter's coach. That other coach that placed the call didn't really have to do it but for I am forever grateful that she took the time to help me out even when it was not her job.

 

[OceanAnnie]

MsKanga, I understand your POV. I was agreeing with you in my posts. It doesn't seem that way out of context, but that was my intent. Sorry if it didn't convey.

 

[Mskanga]

OceanMinnie , I know exactly what you meant and no offense was taken.