Cary school evaluating security after children climb fence

Mary McKinney, co-owner and office manager of the Heartwood Montessori School on Byrum Street, said Tuesday that staff are looking at ways to help prevent something similar from happening again, including installing a taller fence around the playground.

Cary police said Kaycee Formont and Liya Chen climbed the fence shortly after 1 p.m. and wandered away, prompting a three-hour search involving more than 30 emergency workers.

"It was likely that the kids had wandered off or walked off on their own, but we didn't want to take that chance," said Capt. Scott Davis with the Cary Police Department. "So, we looked at it as a worst-case situation, first, and worked our way backward from there."

The children apparently followed a path in the woods behind the school and ended up about a half-mile away, where they were found near Forest Green Drive.

Erica Formont said Tuesday that her daughter made a poor choice and then hid because she was scared. She said both girls are doing fine.