ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The disappearance of 13-year-old Madeline Soto has highlighted what parents call a “major flaw” in Orange County Public Schools’ notification system.
Madeline’s mother, Jennifer Soto, says she didn’t receive an automated message from OCPS saying her daughter was absent until nearly 6 p.m. on the day Madeline vanished, Feb. 26.
It was 10 hours after her daughter, Madeline, didn’t show up at Hunter’s Creek Middle School.
Jennifer said she received that automated call after she went to the school to try to pick up Madeline around 4:30 p.m.
Sarah Terrell, the mom of a Hunter’s Creek Middle School student, is one of many Orange County parents asking Orange County Schools to notify parents earlier in the day that their child is absent.
Terrell started a petition Thursday that already has hundreds of signatures.
“I don’t think that it would be so horrible that I get a call at 10 or 11 a.m. that my student was absent. And maybe they were at the doctor, and maybe I dropped them off at noon. And I can then just ignore that call. Because I know my student is with me. I think that’s a far better scenario than the other way around,” Terrell told Eyewitness News.
Orange County Public Schools said their automated system notifies parents after the school day because the final cut-off for teachers to submit attendance is 3:30 p.m.
If a student misses at least half of a day, they are considered absent.
Once attendance is finalized in the system, the School District says a report is run, and later, guardians are notified their student was absent. Typically, parents are notified around 5 p.m.
Channel 9 checked with other school districts in Central Florida. Lake County Schools notifies guardians after a student is absent for at least one class. Some states, like Ohio, have laws on the books that require parents to be notified within two hours of a student’s absence.
“We have had quite a few emails from parents concerned about the current procedure that we have in Orange County,” said school board member Alicia Farrant. Farrant represents the district Hunter’s Creek Middle is in.
She says after news of Madeline’s disappearance Monday, she has received several emails and plans to discuss Orange County’s current procedure with the board.
“I can go to the board table and see if there is a procedure that we can change to help prevent things in the future,” Farrant said. “Although with something like this, I don’t know that this could have been prevented and we can’t live life in the what ifs.”
Madeline Soto: Search for missing girl enters 5th day in Orange County
Madeline Soto: Missing Kissimmee girl's body found in rural Osceola County The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said Friday evening that Madeline Soto’s body has been found. Investigators said Osceola County deputies found the missing 13-year-old girl’s body at about 4:30 p.m. in a wooded area along Hickory Tree Road. (WFTV/WFTV)
Stephan Sterns & Madeline Soto Detectives believe Stephan Sterns killed 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Monday morning at a Kissimmee apartment complex. (WFTV)
Search for Madeline Soto Investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon. (WFTV)
Search for Madeline Soto Investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon. (WFTV)
Search for Madeline Soto Investigators discovered the body of 13-year-old Madeline Soto on Friday afternoon. (WFTV)
Video Sources: Madeline Soto’s body discovered in rural Osceola County Sources say that Maddie’s body was found in rural St. Cloud near Hickory Tree Road. (Chantelle Navarro /Chantelle Navarro)
Law enforcement join the search for Madeline Soto Police and deputies canvassed the area of Osceola County for 13-year-old Madeline Soto. (Nick Papantonis/Nick Papantonis)
Kissimmee Police Department will take over Madeline Soto investigation The Kissimmee Police Department will handle the search for Madeline Soto, said Chief Betty Holland. (Nick Papantonis/Nick Papantonis)
Orange County Sheriff John Mina gives update on Madeline Soto The sheriff said the efforts will now shift to recovering her body. (Orange County Sheriff's Office /Orange County Sheriff's Office)
Orange County Sheriff's Office gave an update for Madeline Soto Sheriff John Mina said he is confident that she is dead, and recovery efforts will continue. (Nick Papantonis/Nick Papantonis)
Suspect in girl’s disappearance taken to Osceola County Jail
Madeline Soto: Community to hold prayer vigil tonight Members of the community will gather to pray for 13-year-old Madeline Soto. (Unity & Fire Church International/Unity & Fire Church International)
Stephan Sterns & Madeline Soto Deputies in Orange County said 13-year-old Madeline Soto has been missing since Monday morning. And now, her mother’s boyfriend is in jail on charges of sexual battery and possession of child sex abuse material. Stephan Sterns was supposed to go before an Orange County judge Thursday morning but refused to be in court. (OCSO)
Search continues for missing girl, Madeline Soto, as her mother’s boyfriend refuses to face judge
Law enforcement join the search for Madeline Soto More than 50 members of the Orange County Emergency Response Team looked for the 13-year-old in various areas as our detectives continued their investigation. (Orange County Sheriff's Office /Orange County Sheriff's Office)
Law enforcement join the search for Madeline Soto More than 50 members of the Orange County Emergency Response Team looked for the 13-year-old in various areas as our detectives continued their investigation. (Orange County Sheriff's Office /Orange County Sheriff's Office)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Large search party gathers Wednesday to look for missing 13-year-old girl in Orange County
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Orange County deputies search for missing 13-year-old girl Madeline Soto (Jennifer Soto /Jennifer Soto)
Madeline Soto The Orange County Sheriff’s Office on Friday confirmed that the body of Madeline Soto, 13, has been located. (Orange County Sheriff's Office/Orange County Sheriff's Office)
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