Dighton Elementary student, 5, left school grounds during recess and was found safe, district says
The Dighton-Rehoboth district reported the incident to the state Department of Children and Families and plans more playground fencing, renewed supervision rules and a review of staffing, district officials told WJAR.
DIGHTON A 5-year-old Dighton Elementary School student walked off school grounds during recess on Oct. 20, Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District Superintendent Bill Runey said, according to WJAR (NBC 10). The child left the playground and was later found safe by police, school officials said.
WJAR reported the incident Wednesday. Runey said he spoke with the child's mother and apologized, the station reported. "We are grateful for that outcome, but a safe outcome does not make what happened acceptable," he said.
"We are engaging an outside investigator to conduct an independent investigation into what happened, whether staff followed established expectations, and who needs to be held accountable," Runey said, according to the station. "The district also self-reported the incident to the Department of Children and Families."
What the district says it is changing
The school will install additional playground fencing and re-establish its supervision protocols, district officials told WJAR. The district is also reviewing staffing ratios and assignments, and it is pursuing additional special education support through a staffing agency, officials said.
Runey said the findings of the independent investigation will guide any further action, WJAR reported.
The report to the state
The Department of Children and Families is the state agency that takes reports of suspected abuse or neglect of children. Under state law, when a mandated reporter on a school's staff has reason to make such a report, the staff member may tell the person in charge of the school, who then becomes responsible for notifying the department.
About the school
Dighton Elementary School, at 1250 Somerset Ave., is one of five schools in the Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District, which serves the two towns. The district's March 23 building project FAQ put the school's enrollment at 455 students and says the new building the district plans is designed for students in pre-K through grade 4.
That building project is moving through the Massachusetts School Building Authority. Our Oct. 25 story has the details.
How to reach the district
Dighton Elementary School's main office can be reached at 508-669-4245. The district's central office is at 2700 Regional Road in North Dighton, 508-252-5000.
South Coast 360 will update this story as we learn more.
Label: Reported by us, from the town's posted records.
Notes
Every fact about the Oct. 20 incident, including Superintendent Bill Runey's words, the safety measures and the report to the Department of Children and Families, comes from WJAR's Oct. 28 report, which we read that afternoon and credit throughout. The school's address, phone numbers, enrollment and grades come from the district's websites and its March 23 project FAQ, and the reporting rule from Chapter 119, Section 51A of the General Laws, all read Oct. 28. We checked each date and weekday against a calendar. The child is not named.
Corrections
No corrections to this story. If something here is wrong, tell us. Every correction is dated on the story and listed in our public log.
Sources (6)
- WJAR (NBC 10), "5-year-old student leaves school grounds during recess at Dighton Elementary School" (Oct. 28, 2026)First report. Runey's statement and quotes; the Oct. 20 date; the child found safe by police; the apology to the mother; the outside investigator; the DCF self-report; the four safety measures. Published Oct. 28, 2026, 2:04 p.m., updated 3:19 p.m. Read Oct. 28, 2026.
- Dighton Elementary School: school website (address, main office phone; news page and live feed checked)Read Oct. 28, 2026.
- Dighton-Rehoboth Regional School District: district website (central office address and phone, the five schools; news page and live feed checked)Read Oct. 28, 2026.
- Dighton Elementary School MSBA Project: Frequently Asked Questions, 3.23.26Current enrollment of 455 students; new building designed for grades K-4 plus pre-K. Read Oct. 25 and Oct. 28, 2026.
- Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 119, Section 51AReports of suspected abuse or neglect by mandated reporters; school staff may notify the person in charge of the school. Read Oct. 28, 2026.
- South Coast 360: State school building board votes Wednesday on Swansea junior high deal and Dighton Elementary plan (Oct. 25, 2026)Our earlier story on the building project.