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5-Year-Old Boy Wanders Away From Mattapan School Unnoticed

BOSTON (CBS) - A 5-year-old was able to walk out of the Young Achievers School in Mattapan unnoticed. The boy walked a fifth of a mile to his grandmother's house. She was fortunately home Friday morning.

Melody White said her conversation with her grandson resembled the following, "How did you get here? 'Oh I walked' and I lost it."

She called the boy's mother who was at work. "I called the school and no one knew my son was gone. I am just so upset about it, anything could have happened," said his mother Quiana Philogene.

She said her son apparently didn't feel well, walked out the side door and to his grandma's house, which is down the hill and across a busy intersection.

"He was gone for an hour or more out of the school and no one knew," said White.

The Boston Public School District says usually there are two teachers in the room, but Friday there was only one. The District released this statement:

"We are deeply sorry for this breach in safety protocol. The incident at the Young Achievers School today should never have happened. As a district, we pride ourselves on making BPS a safe haven for children. To that end, we will be seeking changes to protocols in the building that ensure the safety and well-being of every child in this school."

"I send him there for education and safety," said Philogene. She meets with school officials early next week about changes to make sure another child doesn't wander away unnoticed.

A spokesperson for the district said there will be two adults in the room, and bells are being placed on doors to alert staff if they are opened.

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