From the article :

"The simple answer -- there's no law requiring bus drivers to know every child's individual stop. School districts obligate drivers to obey all traffic laws and keep kids safe. But Caleb's mom says there should be extra precautions in severe weather."

I think the bus driver dropped the ball here. Whether or not it was the correct stop, or that the driver isn't obligated to know every child's stop is immaterial in this situation. I can understand how it could happen with a new driver, but to let any child out in a wild thunderstorm when they have the obligation to "keep kids safe" sounds like a bus driver not doing their job to me.

I have a 9 year old grandson that I had to pick up at his school bus stop once when his Mom and Dad both had to work. Before the driver would let him off the bus, I had to identify who I was and my grandson then had to tell the driver who I was. This was in good weather with a 9 year old. Thunderstorms, hail, 50+ MPH winds ..... 5 years old ..... sorry ... my opinion is the driver blew it.

LW