NORTH KINGSTOWN, R.I. (WPRI) — The North Kingstown School Department is investigating how a child was unintentionally left unattended on a bus Tuesday morning.

In a letter sent to parents Tuesday, North Kingstown Superintendent Kenneth Duva explained that the child was being brought to the district's extended school year program.

Duva said the child was found safe by a district employee in the bus yard on Fairway Drive. He described the ordeal as "deeply concerning" and assured parents that those responsible for the child at the time have been placed on administrative leave.

"The safety and well-being of our students are our top priorities," Duva said. "We are thankful that the child is safe, however, we are also extremely concerned that this situation occurred."

Duva said the district is currently reviewing "procedures, safety protocols and accountability for the monitoring of students" who are transported via bus.

"We will be implementing additional measures to prevent such incidents from happening in the future," Duva said. "This includes enhancing communication protocols between drivers, monitors, and school personnel to ensure that every student is safely accounted for during and after transportation."

"We remain dedicated to providing a safe and nurturing environment for every student in our community," he concluded.