MORAN — Safety took precedence over Monday night’s Marmaton Valley USD 256 board of education meeting and parent Angelia Roney was there to explain why.
Currently, Marmaton Valley students who are outside of Moran city limits must meet at a designated bus stop to be picked up for school. The current location is the Allen County Landfill at the intersection of Nebraska Road and 2800 Street.
This intersection, Roney says, has become a safety issue.
Roney went to the board meeting asking for members’ support to begin picking up students at the LaHarpe City Hall.
The board agreed student safety is compromised at the current bus stop and approved Roney’s request for support from USD 256.
Addressing the fear by USD 257 administrators that the new pick-up might result in a loss of LaHarpe students attending Iola schools, USD 256 superintendent David Hardage said, “We’re not looking to go get Iola students. This is about safety.”
Councilman Harry Lee Jr. suggested Roney visit with the new LaHarpe Baptist Mission on Main Street for permission to use its property as a bus stop.
Roney said she did visit with them, but the church declined her request because, “it is private property, and that causes liability.”
LaHarpe council members have expressed concern about children being forgotten or causing “riff-raff” at city hall, but even at the current location if there is a child who has to wait for their parents to collect them there is an understanding among the other parents that the children are never left unattended.
Roney has received suggestions about the parents volunteering to direct traffic at the busy intersection, but “there are laws on that.” A person must be properly trained and certified to be able to direct traffic.
The board also discussed a backup location, in case the council does not approve their city hall to be used. The city park was decided as a good alternative.
“They might go for it because it might be easier and there is nothing there,” Roney said.
Roney has roughly 40 or 50 signatures on her petition for the new pick-up location.
Roney will be bringing her petition along with USD 256 board approval to the LaHarpe city council meeting Wednesday.
ALSO on the board’s agenda was some basic housekeeping and discussion about the changing of a policy.
Currently students who want to participate in any after-school activities, such as sports, FFA and so forth must be at school all day.
