The Roanoke Times | File 2008

A blogger recently questioned lead-footed Floyd County bus drivers who also do not halt at stop signs. School officials say they haven't had any other complaints from residents but that they're looking into the topic.

Residents in Floyd County are writing to a local blog with concerns about school bus drivers, after the blog's author raised the issue two weeks ago.

But the school system's administrators aren't too worried.

Two weeks ago, Doug Thompson, who runs the blog Blue Ridge Muse, questioned lead-footed drivers who also do not halt at stop signs.

"I've lost track of the number of times I've watched a school bus run the stop sign at Barberry Road and East Main Street in Floyd," Thompson wrote. "Sometimes, three or four school buses in a row will run the sign without pausing. Last week, I had to brake hard and bring my Wrangler nearly to a stop when a bus pulled out onto Main Street without stopping."

He's since videotaped at least one bus that failed to stop at the intersection.

Neither Floyd County School Board Chairman Doug Phillips nor Superintendent Terry Arbogast said they'd received any complaints from residents, but they said they're looking into the topic.

"Anything that's a safety issue, I'm sure that Dr. Arbogast and our transportation supervisor is right on it," Phillips said. "I'm 100 percent sure they're on top of it."

Arbogast said that after he learned about the community conversation about the drivers, Transportation Supervisor Mike Carr sent a memo to all bus drivers reminding them to follow speed limits and traffic signs.

"We still reviewed that information," he said. "We still take that very seriously. When you still hear things in the community we still have an obligation to take to consider it."

After seeing the video, Arbogast said, "We talked directly with individuals who might have been part of that."

He said he recognized that at least one driver was "more pausing instead of stopping," but he said he didn't see it as a widespread problem.

He pointed to an "extraordinary" driving record of Floyd's bus drivers, who haul about 1,900 students on 46 buses each day.

"I think there's just sometimes that we need to be reminded," he said.

"I don't expect to hear about it again."

FAIRLAWN

Old Riverlawn school to get alternative program

The former Riverlawn Elementary School will house a cooperative transition program for county students in the fall. The Pulaski County School Board voted unanimously Monday in favor of the plan, which will be designed for students who have trouble in a traditional classroom setting.

The program is planned as a temporary alternative school for second- to 12th-graders and will offer a combination of academics and community service agencies, such as mental health and law enforcement. It also will be an alternative to out-of-school suspension for students.

Toni Elitharp, the county's director of special education, calls the plan "an extension of the regular school." The goal, he said, is to get students who might have behavioral problems, disabilities or emotional issues back into their home school as quickly as possible.

School principals, counselors and teachers can refer students to the program, and parents will have the final say.

Elitharp had been working on creating the program, which she calls a "middle step," since she began working for the school system this school year.

"We had too many students on out-of-district placement," she said. "I felt like we were disconnected from those students."

The program, which isn't expected to need any additional teachers than what the county already employs, will give students lessons and access to services based on their individual needs.

"It's hard to describe, but it's something that's going to have everybody wrapping their arms around" the students, she said.

During the day, participants in the program, which will be housed in the downstairs portion of the former elementary school, will take four classes. The academics will be taught by special education instructors. Art programs and a citizenship course will also be offered.

Elitharp said initial plans are to enroll 16 students for the services, but the school would have capacity for 50. The larger portion of the students would be those using the alternative suspension program, she said.

She said the spent much of the year talking with students who are enrolled in other private alternative programs to find out what they wanted from the school system.

The school board will decide on other uses for separate parts of the building down the line. One plan is to approach community businesses or agencies about moving to the school's second floor.

TUTORING

Math class for parents offered next month

A child tutoring center in Christiansburg is having a class for parents who might struggle helping their children with homework.

The Sylvan Learning Center will have a refresher workshop called "Forgotten Math for Parents" that will focus on key math concepts introduced in seventh and eighth grades.

The 90-minute session slated for 5:30 p.m. May 1 is free.

The course will cover pre-algebra and algebra topics such as linear equations and graphing calculators, fractions and exponents, among other topics. Participants will receive a list of math resources for students. The event will also feature light refreshments, a question-and-answer session and raffles for prizes.

GREEN CLASSROOMS

Trash-to-treasure program ongoing

Students at Eastern Elementary/Middle School in Giles County will hand over "Happy Spring" cards today to be sent to a local nursing home.

Students in kindergarten, first and second grades created the cards for a trash-to-treasure program run through the Pearisburg Junior Woman's Club.

This is the second year that the woman's club and the U.S. Forestry Service have asked students to take part in the Earth Day project.

Each class participating also receives a book about conservation and hears guest lecturers who speak on conversation.

SCHOLARSHIP

Deadline approaches for RSVP award

The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Montgomery County and Radford has two $1,000 scholarships available to high school seniors in either municipality.

The students must be interested in careers in the human services or the medical field.

Applications are available in guidance counselor offices or by contacting RSVP at 382-5775. The application can also be found on the RSVP Web site at www.montva.com/rsvp.

The deadline is May 11.