Dear Editor,

Summer school started a few weeks ago for the Tippecanoe Valley School Corporation. One of the designated bus pick-up and drop-off points is the Beaver Dam Boat Launch parking lot located along 750W in Kosciusko County. On the second day of classes, the bus was running about 20 minutes late. When the bus arrived, the driver did not pull into the parking lot, but motioned for the students to board the bus while it was still on the road. One of the parents motioned and told the driver to pull into the parking lot. The driver refused.

During the 2019-2020 school year, a Tippecanoe Valley bus was filmed with several children unloading and walking across SR 14 to their home. It was on WNDU news in August of 2020.

How can the Tippecanoe Valley School System continue these practices? The tragedy of October 30, 2018, should be a lesson to all drivers, including the bus drivers.

Since the MAXSTRONG bill became law, newspapers have reported that vehicles have passed busses with their lights on and stop arm out. Are these drivers given a warning or ticketed and then prosecuted? Perhaps if the names were published with the violation, it would bring more attention to this issue. With elections coming up, it would be interesting to see if the candidates have plans to promote bus safety.  We all need to work together to protect our future and be responsible for all of the people around us.

Beth Trump
Argos