Valley Journal
Valley Journal

This Week’s e-Edition

Current Events

Latest Headlines

What's New?

Send us your news items.

NOTE: All submissions are subject to our Submission Guidelines.

Announcement Forms

Use these forms to send us announcements.

Birth Announcement
Obituary

Bus drivers bring safety concerns to trustees

Hey savvy news reader! Thanks for choosing local. You are now reading
1 of 3 free articles.



Subscribe now to stay in the know!

Already a subscriber? Login now

POLSON — Polson School District bus drivers spoke to the Polson School Board about safety issues at the Nov. 10 trustee meeting.

Bus driver Don Grover drives the Finley Point Route following Montana State Highway 35 and then the Finley Point loop.

“I’ve had lots of people go through my reds,” Glover said, “And I’ve come very close to two accidents.” 

Etta Moore, who drove Route 9 for three years, said the bus stop at Cherry Hill Apartments was busy with kids walking up to catch the bus from 11th and 12th Avenue E., crossing Hillcrest Drive during a busy time. 

“I’d ask that you guys review that bus stop — change it or split it up,” Moore said.

Chris Dawson, another bus driver, agreed with Moore and Glover. He had a suggestion — good quality cameras in the buses that could photograph faces and license plates.

The drivers are all concerned about the safety of their passengers, riding and getting on and off school buses. 

“The only way we can stop this is to deter it,” Dawson said.

Student Board Representative Sarah Rausch reported that Polson High School upcoming events include: 

• A blood drive on Nov. 18.

• Spree, an annual girls-ask-the-boys dance, is scheduled for Dec. 6. 

• The student Board of Governors is looking into getting a defibrillator for the football field.

• Many student clubs are “adopting” families for Thanksgiving and providing turkey dinner baskets.

In other business, Caryl Cox, vice chair of the board, was recognized as an outstanding board member for state of Montana and was one of eight recipients of the Marvin Hines award.

Superintendent Linda Reksten gave her report, speaking about trustees visiting district schools. 

“Our goal is to become that district where parents want to enroll their children,” Reksten said. “This is exactly why those visits are so important.”

Trustees agreed, but decided to visit only one school per day to avoid a rushed feeling.

Rekstens also attended a workshop on long-range facility planning in Tampa, Florida, remarking on a presentation on more comfortable classroom furniture. She also visited Hillel Academy of Tampa. That school “did a lot of remodeling for very low cost.” 

Reksten said District 23 employees John Gustafson and Dan Giles were recognized as outstanding at the annual Polson Chamber of Commerce dinner. 

The board’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be Dec. 8 at 5:30 p.m. in the administration meeting room.

Sponsored by: