A preschool student was left on a Valley school bus for more than two hours Monday, June 1.

According to a statement on the Snoqualmie Valley School District Web site, the student, a three year old girl, was mistakenly left on the bus following a morning delivery to Snoqualmie Elementary School, and remained on the bus unattended for several hours.

Media reports stated that the child was found by a driver working the afternoon shift. The girl’s mother was called to pick her up. The district stated that she was safe and unharmed.

The bus driver’s employment was terminated.

According to the district, transportation safety procedures require bus drivers, at the conclusion of each route, to walk to the back of the bus scanning all seats to verify that no children still remain on board as part of the shutdown procedures.

The district’s transportation department is emphasizing proper checks among drivers this month and during upcoming driver training sessions.

The school is also reviewing attendance practices to make sure parents are appropriately notified.

Typically, classroom teachers report attendance first thing each morning to their school’s office staff, who then call parents for unreported absence. The district will be reinforcing with all principals the importance of the attendance procedures currently in place.