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Parent-to-child
communication
emphasized to prevent misunderstandings
By MICHAEL MARESH
mmaresh@lahontanvalleynews.com
When the Fallon Police Department receives a call about a child that is missing, every available officer - on and off duty - is called to join the search.
In all cases in the Churchill County School District so far, the missing child in question has been with a friend or another relative.
E.C. Best Elementary School Principal Scott Meihack and his staff, when notified a student did not show up where he or she was expected, usually locates the child within 20 to 30 minutes with a few phone calls.
Meihack said not all of the blame lies with the child as many times parents change their instructions two to three times in one day. If a call comes to the school minutes before the final bell rings, chances are students will not be informed of the location change.
The child that turns up missing more often will go to a friend's home rather then going directly home.
Meihack said more children have been reported missing after school in 2007 at this time of the year than in his 12 years with the district, averaging about one a week.
"We have learned 100 percent of the time that the kids are at a friend's home," he said, adding the district has been fortunate with all of the missing children being located in his 12 years with the district.
When notified by frantic parents that their child never returned home from school, Meihack calls all of the emergency numbers on the student's card before going to teachers to ask if they overheard anything in class that could lead to finding the missing pupil.
"It's a process of elimination," he said.
This year, a third-grader decided to go to a friend's home after school without telling anyone. In previous years there were children in kindergarten and first grade who visited a friend's home without notifying anyone.
"It's the culture of our families and lifestyle," he said. "It's bizarre. It's a completely different world then when we were kids. There is a lack of communication."
Superintendent Carolyn Ross said parents and children need to keep each other informed.
"Communication is a huge issue for families and schools. I feel certain that if parents knew it was inconveniencing others to the degree that it has been explained to me, they will make extra efforts to have their students be where they are supposed to be," she said. "We are fortunate to have a very caring staff, and we will continue to make every effort to locate missing kids, but it is taking a toll on individuals and systems, including our law enforcement system."
Meihack said some children are unaware of the seriousness of not informing someone where they are going to be.
"We have to teach our kids in the adult world what this does," he said, when talking about what parents think when a child turns up missing.
Fallon Police Chief Russ Brooks said when a child turns up missing, the emotional distress of the parents cannot be measured.
"The thought is they could be abducted or (hurt)," he said. "It's a lack of communication on the kids talking to the parents. The message is clear communication and letting the parents know."
He said the resources the department uses when looking for children that are found at a friend's home could be used for other efforts.
"The good news is we normally find these kids pretty quickly," Brooks said.
communication
emphasized to prevent misunderstandings
By MICHAEL MARESH
mmaresh@lahontanvalleynews.com
When the Fallon Police Department receives a call about a child that is missing, every available officer - on and off duty - is called to join the search.
In all cases in the Churchill County School District so far, the missing child in question has been with a friend or another relative.
E.C. Best Elementary School Principal Scott Meihack and his staff, when notified a student did not show up where he or she was expected, usually locates the child within 20 to 30 minutes with a few phone calls.
Meihack said not all of the blame lies with the child as many times parents change their instructions two to three times in one day. If a call comes to the school minutes before the final bell rings, chances are students will not be informed of the location change.
The child that turns up missing more often will go to a friend's home rather then going directly home.
Meihack said more children have been reported missing after school in 2007 at this time of the year than in his 12 years with the district, averaging about one a week.
"We have learned 100 percent of the time that the kids are at a friend's home," he said, adding the district has been fortunate with all of the missing children being located in his 12 years with the district.
When notified by frantic parents that their child never returned home from school, Meihack calls all of the emergency numbers on the student's card before going to teachers to ask if they overheard anything in class that could lead to finding the missing pupil.
"It's a process of elimination," he said.
This year, a third-grader decided to go to a friend's home after school without telling anyone. In previous years there were children in kindergarten and first grade who visited a friend's home without notifying anyone.
"It's the culture of our families and lifestyle," he said. "It's bizarre. It's a completely different world then when we were kids. There is a lack of communication."
Superintendent Carolyn Ross said parents and children need to keep each other informed.
"Communication is a huge issue for families and schools. I feel certain that if parents knew it was inconveniencing others to the degree that it has been explained to me, they will make extra efforts to have their students be where they are supposed to be," she said. "We are fortunate to have a very caring staff, and we will continue to make every effort to locate missing kids, but it is taking a toll on individuals and systems, including our law enforcement system."
Meihack said some children are unaware of the seriousness of not informing someone where they are going to be.
"We have to teach our kids in the adult world what this does," he said, when talking about what parents think when a child turns up missing.
Fallon Police Chief Russ Brooks said when a child turns up missing, the emotional distress of the parents cannot be measured.
"The thought is they could be abducted or (hurt)," he said. "It's a lack of communication on the kids talking to the parents. The message is clear communication and letting the parents know."
He said the resources the department uses when looking for children that are found at a friend's home could be used for other efforts.
"The good news is we normally find these kids pretty quickly," Brooks said.
