The efforts continue to get the buses running smoother in Danville District 118. At last month’s board meeting, a representative from the First Student bus company heard many complaints about students being dropped off in the wrong area or on the wrong side of the street. In addition, a company in Montana that the routing had been outsourced too had some wrong mapping information. Assistant Superintendent John Hart says there’s more work to do. But Montana does have the right information now, and some progress has been made. The Farmer’s Almanac is predicting a rough winter, and Hart says they intend for the busing routines and communications to be set and ready when winter arrives.
AUDIO: We will be all set. The communication with First Student is really good, especially when it comes to weather. I’m up early. They’re up early. So, we go through the town; Dr Geddes is always in communication with the highway department. So, we’ll be ready to go.
Meanwhile, it was announced during the Wednesday evening 118 Board meeting that a member of the district team has received an award. Social worker Lauren Lenstra, hired through an R-3 grant to teach Social Emotional Learning classes; and to work with students at Edison and Meade Park Schools; has been named Citizen of the Year by the Illinois Association of School Social Workers. Lenstra says the award is a reflection on everyone.
AUDIO: It’s very humbling, of course. It’s all of our team working together, I feel like, to do the accomplishment that we have; reaching out to our community. It’s a joy, what I do, and it doesn’t always feel like work; but, just being able to be there for the students and the families.
Lenstra also stays busy running the Hope Center at Fair Oaks with her husband.
