Story that ran on 8/27/14 in The Baxter Bulletin. If you missed the print page here is a link to the online edition. baxterbulletin/story/news/local/2014/08/26/school-traffic/14664881/ If you are unable to load the link, here it is. School traffic going smoothly, district says JOSH DOOLEY, MTN Kevin Pieper/The Baxter Bulletin Mountain Home school buses leave the bus yard Tuesday afternoon. Wes more The beginning of a new school year brings with it the usual traffic woes; snarled streets, surly faces, blaring horns and tempers that seem to shorten in direct proportion to rising temperatures. This year, though, things are a bit different, according to Wes Henderson, director of student services for Mountain Home Public Schools. Henderson keeps an eye on buses and watches over traffic at all of the districts schools, troubleshooting on the fly and looking for ways to make traffic run as smooth as possible. Its strange, but Ive talked with the school resource officers, and weve probably had fewer problems this year than we have in the past three or four years, Henderson said. Were not altogether sure why. Were not complaining, mind you, were very glad. One of the primary concerns going into the new school year was at Pinkston Middle, as the Arkansas Department of Transportation is in the midst of a widening project on College Street right around the school. Street work in the area of Pinkston has greatly improved afternoon traffic, according to principal Michele McWilliams.The work theyve done has helped tremendously, McWilliams said. Weve really seen an improvement. The state will eventually work directly in front of Pinkston to widen the road. McWilliams says once that work is finished, morning traffic in the area should ease somewhat. The first day of school saw exactly zero complaints from angry parents, according to Henderson, who noted his phone remained eerily silent as not one student was let off at the wrong place. Not only that, but parents have done a great job of being polite and safe around the schools, Henderson said. We havent had a single incident of someone passing a bus with its stop sign out. That, Henderson said, is something district personnel are quite happy about. The safety of the kids is our number one priority, and the public is doing their part in helping us keep them safe by being cautious around the buses and the schools, Henderson said. Were extremely grateful that people are slowing down, being calm and polite, and really watching out. As for when the work near Pinkston will be completed, Henderson and McWilliams said they were uncertain. Its going to take time. And, its going to get worse before it gets better, Henderson said of traffic around Pinkston as road work continues. Were not sure when the work will be completed, but were sure looking forward to it.
Posted on: Tue, 02 Sep 2014 03:45:50 +0000