So here is a copy of a recent article from the Vernal Express:

School board, parents, work closely together to get kids to school safely
by Tabatha Deans
5 days ago 32 views 0 0
Sherry Brokaw, parent and spokesperson for the Sunburst Terrace community, presented Uintah School District board members with a petition signed by parents in her community, requesting a school bus stop for the 43 children who live in Sunburst. Brokaw said she was concerned for the children’s safety as they walk the 1.5 miles to school, citing as safety hazards large truck traffic and lack of sidewalks. Areas within 1.5 miles of schools are considered “parental responsibility zones,” but during the Aug. 26 school board meeting, board members voted to reinstate bus services to two areas around Discovery Elementary and Ashley Elementary. Brokaw and members of the Sunburst community were hoping for the same consideration.“There’s already a bus that goes past there on its way to Quailbrook,” said Brokaw. “And it’s only half full.”Board members were sympathetic to Brokaw’s plight but were unable to satisfy her request for bus service. They referred Brokaw to her school community council, saying that every school zone is being surveyed for safety issues through community council meetings.School Board President Rodney Anderson said, “There’s no question that 500 West is hazardous,” and board member Perry Taylor added, “Sunburst is definitely on the list, but it’s an issue all through the district.”After the meeting Taylor talked with Brokaw about some misconceptions regarding the busing situation. Brokaw questioned why Quailbrook and Ashley received bus service so quickly.According to Taylor, the two routes were reinstated after a misunderstanding caused the board to discontinue them. Originally board members thought the routes would require new buses to continue and opted not to buy buses for the routes. When they realized their error, during the Aug. 26 board meeting, they reinstated the routes. The board is gathering information from each school and from parents surrounding the school about how many students walk, conditions of the streets, and parental ability to drive or walk their students to school. This information will be analyzed to determine which areas are the most dangerous.Taylor said the school board realizes walking is hazardous for the children, but even after identifying dangerous zones, the district is faced with the challenge of coming up with money to pay more bus drivers.“It’s a money issue,” said Taylor. “We have to be able to pay bus drivers enough to compete with the oilfield industry. Nobody wants to drive a school bus when they could be making more money driving a water truck.”Taylor said utilizing parent or community volunteers as unofficial crossing guards isn’t feasible because of liability issues, but the board is working with city and county officials to discuss the possibility of more school zones, signs around school zones and/or designated crossing areas.Parents of students who attend Davis Elementary expressed their concerns at school community council meetings within the past few weeks. Some felt their area/school was neglected by the school board and claimed their children were in extreme danger when walking to school, due to ongoing road construction that limits the walking area for students.Jayme Leyba, principal at Davis Elementary, said the school board has addressed their concerns.“We’re as dangerous as anybody else,” said Leyba. “Unfortunately our parents aren’t as vocal as some others, but the school board has been helpful. I think they’re working hard to come to a resolution.”Leyba said the board agreed to add one stop to an existing route near the school, and if parents can get their children to that neighborhood stop, the bus will pick them up. School board members will address each community’s concerns through community councils, and said they’re dedicated to ensuring that all students get to and from school safely.Concerned parents should contact their school’s principal for more information about commmunity council meetings.



So, I am slightly embarrassed and also laughing really hard about all of this. I feel worse for Perry Taylor. He gets this all the time. And here is a funny side note about his comment about the money end of it and how people would rather drive a water truck than a school bus. He is CEO of Western Petroleum, a trucking company! Ha Ha! Now they don't deliver water, but they do deliver fuel and have a relatively large fleet of CDL holding truck drivers.....

So here is the Community Spokesperson sigh-ning off

Sherbet