The family of a missing teen boy with autism says stress at school could have led to his disappearance.

Nicholas Read, 16, was last seen at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday when his dad dropped him off at West Kildonan Collegiate.

On Friday, RCMP released another photograph of Nicholas Read in the hopes that someone will come forward about information about his whereabouts. (RCMP) He didn't go to any of his classes and did not return home on the school bus.

"You know, we're obviously, you know, very worried about him, I mean, you know we love him and miss him and want him back here," said Nicholas' dad, Rob Read.

He believes stress at school could be behind him going missing.

"You know, sit him down talk to him tell him it's time to come home. I would think that he's probably sitting somewhere maybe he's giving some story that he's 'out' not running away and maybe people don't realize that's what's up," his dad said.

Nicholas is described as five feet, 11 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds, with blonde hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a blue flat-billed hat, white sunglasses, white checkered shorts, and black and yellow shoes.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the East St. Paul RCMP at 204-668-8322 or call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-8477.

Anonymous tips can also be submitted online or be texting TIPMAN plus a message to CRIMES (274637).

'We have staff on high alert, kids on alert'

Brian O'Leary, superintendent of the Seven Oaks School Division, said when the teen didn't show up for class, staff contacted his parents, who in turn notified RCMP.

Read was last seen wearing a blue flat-billed hat, white sunglasses, white checkered shorts and black and yellow shoes. (Courtesy RCMP) O'Leary said staff and students at West Kildonan Collegiate are trying to locate Read.

"Staff have combed the immediate neighbourhood and looked at places where kids are likely to gather. There's a skateboard park nearby. Mainly their efforts are to use social media. Talk to kids. Police are on scene interviewing students."

O'Leary said what staff and students are doing should not be considered an official search.

"I would call it putting the word out. In order for it to be an organized effort, you would have to have some clearer knowledge of where he might be or might have gone," he said.

"At this point I think they are just trying to look for further information and the word has gone out through [the] media that this boy is missing. And we are hoping people will contact police if they have any knowledge or sight of him."

O'Leary said the teen is highly functional and was not assigned an aide. He said there were no specific protocols the school had to follow because of Read's autism.

Read was last seen at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday when his dad dropped him off at West Kildonan Collegiate. O'Leary confirmed Read was dropped off at the school by his dad. He said he believed Read made it into the school but not to class.

He said with the older grades, a student can leave without notifying anyone.

"It is a large high school. You aren't tracking every person in and out of the school. If it was an elementary student it would be a different case," he said.

"We don't have guards at the doors checking kids in or out. Kids will leave when they have a spare. We are in exam period and there is a fair amount of movement in and out of the school. He wasn't in class where he needed to be. That's when they made a call."

O'Leary said it's a tense time.

"We are concerned and hope he turns up. We have police at the school we have staff on high alert. Kids on alert. I am really working with the school administration. But I think they are handling this as well as they could."