5-year-old returned home safely after walking away from Pierce Elementary

CEDAR RAPIDS — A 5-year-old walked out of Pierce Elementary School Monday morning and was dropped off at her home by a stranger before the family was notified by the school she was missing, her father John Thompson said at a Cedar Rapids school board meeting Monday.

Thompson, speaking during public comment, said his daughter was missing from Pierce Elementary, 4343 Marilyn Dr. NE, Cedar Rapids, for 30 minutes before he got a call from the school. She walked away from the school around 10:45 a.m. Monday, about an hour before the school released early because of a heat advisory.

“I have a lot of concerns that a 5-year-old can slip out a door under the radar and be able to walk in the heat with no knowledge,” said Thompson, who is a candidate for Iowa House District 80.

Thompson said his daughter was picked up by a stranger on 42nd Street in Cedar Rapids and brought home safely. In an interview with The Gazette, Thompson said his daughter knows where they live and was able to direct the stranger to her house.

“I had a strong talk with her, but she believes in unicorns and rainbows and everyone is her best friend,” Thompson said. “Children should not be able to leave a school unattended, definitely at that age ... I almost cried, and I’m not a man to do that, but anything could have happened.”

Thompson said the school’s principal later came over to their home to talk to his family. He said school officials have helped come up with a plan for his daughter, but he wants a plan for all students.

“I’m very upset. At this point, it’s about every kid because the next kid might not be as lucky as mine,” Thompson said.

In an email to The Gazette, Cedar Rapids spokeswoman Orsoya Cypert said school staff “acted promptly upon becoming aware of the situation and initiated safety protocols.”

The district currently is reviewing the exact sequence of events as part of an ongoing investigation to ensure student safety throughout the day, Cypert said.

“The safety and well-being of our students remain our highest priority. As part of our standard procedures, we continuously evaluate and reinforce our safety measures, including staff and training programs,” Cypert said.

Some details of the investigation are not yet available or cannot be shared to protect the privacy of the family involved, Cypert said.

Cedar Rapids schools Superintendent Tawana Grover addressed Thompson during her report to the board Monday. She said Linda Reysack, the district’s chief of schools for Area 3, which includes Pierce Elementary, would be in touch with the family.

“We do care about our students’ safety. Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We will look into the matter and address it properly,” Grover said.

In a statement Tuesday morning, the district said it “recognizes the seriousness of the safety incident.”

“The safety and well-being of our students remain our absolute highest priority,” according to the district’s statement. “The school immediately implemented established safety protocols, and we are deeply grateful to the school staff and the Cedar Rapids Police Department for their swift and coordinated response. We understand the concern this has caused our families and community, and we are taking immediate steps to review and strengthen our safety measures to help prevent such incidents in the future."

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