Some children got on the wrong school bus and ended up in Tempe

School buses. They’re long, blocky, and have that unmistakable shade of yellow. Four tires, a few escape hatches, and a small retractable stop sign. Let’s face it, they all look pretty much the same, which means mistakes happen, and some kids get on the wrong bus.

In Maricopa, where school buses transport children to other cities in other counties, such confusion can leave children far from their destination. Add to that the fact that it’s the first day of school, and it’s not unusual if you don’t recognize some of your bus passengers.

This clumsy mistake became an unfortunate reality for some local public school students on the first two days of school, Wednesday and Thursday, Maricopa Unified School District spokesperson Mishell Terry told InMaricopa.

MUSD has learned of several incidents involving students who reportedly boarded buses from other districts and were transported to schools outside of Maricopa.

“We have been monitoring social media posts and our own internal communications to understand the circumstances surrounding these events,” Terry said.

The same thing happened Tuesday in San Tan Valley, when a 5- and 9-year-old child called 911 after getting on the wrong bus and getting lost, the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office told ABC15.

Wednesday July 24, first day of school

Social media posts indicated that a number of MUSD students were spotted on buses heading to schools in Tempe Union and Kyrene counties.

“We have not been able to confirm whether any students actually arrived at these destinations, and the parents of these students have not reported them to the district or school administration,” Terry said.

Thursday July 25, second day of school

A high school student boarded a bus and was taken to a Tempe Union school. The student contacted his mother, who then drove to Tempe to pick him up.

“Our transportation director spoke with the parent,” Terry said. “We’re thankful the student was safe and was able to contact his parent.”

Terry in a statement to InMaricopa said the events of this week have been a learning experience.

“While these incidents involved older students and buses from other districts, they highlight the importance of ensuring all students board the correct buses,” she said. “This serves as a reminder to our own drivers to remain vigilant and alert to prevent situations like this from happening.”

Terry added: “We are committed to strengthening our procedures and increasing administrator awareness to ensure the safety and well-being of all our students.”