Magna mother Amber Adams is pressing the Granite School District for tighter safety protocols after her five‑year‑old son, Carter, left Pleasant Green Elementary without adult supervision and walked home alone. Adams said she arrived early to pick up Carter, as she has done before, but found his classroom empty.
“I get there with my other two children, and I don’t see my son anywhere,” Adams told FOX 13 News. The teacher told her the student had already left the classroom. While Adams tried not to panic, the minutes stretched and Carter remained missing.
Adams waited for about 25 minutes before the vice principal arrived in her car. Eventually, she learned that Carter had walked out the front doors of the school instead of proceeding to the office for a formal checkout. The walk home takes roughly 20 minutes and requires crossing two main roads, raising concerns about traffic safety and the risk of predators targeting unattended children.
District response
The Granite School District released a statement on Thursday acknowledging the incident and saying it is actively reviewing its procedures. “It appears that the student was informed they were being checked out, but left the building instead of proceeding to the front office,” the district said. “Student safety continues to be our primary concern. We sincerely regret that this incident occurred and the school has already made adjustments to its procedures to ensure this doesn’t happen again.”
Since the incident, the district has sent emails to parents indicating that no pickups will be allowed after 3:15 p.m. and is considering installing fencing around school entrances to prevent unsupervised exits.
Parent perspective
Adams expressed relief that her son arrived home safely but warned that the situation could have ended tragically. “I was really concerned that he would take the wrong turn or get hit by a car, and predators look for these things: small children walking unattended,” she said. “It’s really scary.” She urged every school district to implement stronger structures at doors and to review checkout policies.
Local officials have not yet detailed specific changes, but the district’s quick acknowledgment and promise of procedural adjustments signal a commitment to protecting young students. Parents in Magna and the surrounding area are encouraged to stay informed about any new safety measures and to communicate any concerns directly with school administrators.
What families can do
While the district works on systemic improvements, families can take additional steps to safeguard their children:
- Confirm the school’s checkout process and ensure children understand where to go after class.
- Arrange for a designated adult to meet children at the school entrance.
- Teach children basic road safety, including how to cross major streets safely.
- Stay in contact with teachers and staff if a child’s routine changes.
By combining district‑level policy changes with proactive parental involvement, Magna can help ensure that all students return home safely each day.
Original reporting: FOX 13 KSTU (Salt Lake County) — read the source article.
