FIFTH OPENING – The Sitka seine boats Hukilau and Rose Lee pump herring aboard this afternoon at the end of Deep Inlet during the fifth opening in the Sitka Sound sac roe herring fishery. The opening was being held in two locations beginning at 11 a.m. (Sentinel Photo by James Poulson)
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
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By Sentinel Staff
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By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
After storming into the state 3A boys basketball brac [ ... ]
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The Queen Bees’ spotless season record ended Tuesday night with a 2-1 loss [ ... ]
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By CLAIRE STREMPLE
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Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 26
At 2:10 p.m. a man e [ ... ]
Big Rigs Sought
For April 13
The 3 to 5 Preschool’s spring fundraiser and Big Rig event is happening [ ... ]
By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
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By Sentinel Staff
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By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Sports Editor
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By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel ports Editor
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Playing in a competitive division City League volleyball game Monday evening [ ... ]
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Alaska Beacon
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By YERETH ROSEN
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In the language of the Gwich’in people of northeastern Alaska, [ ... ]
Police Blotter
Sitka police received the following calls by 8 a.m. today:
March 25
At 7:48 a.m. a calle [ ... ]
Vietnam-Era Vets
Invited to Lunch,
Commemoration
American Legion Post 13 will host a luncheon 1-3 p.m. [ ... ]
By GARLAND KENNEDY
Sentinel Staff Writer
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By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The Assembly will start the annual process of determi [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Competing in the 3A state championship title basketball game Saturday, the M [ ... ]
By Sentinel Staff
Playing through the afternoon Sunday, City League volleyball teams faced off [ ... ]
Daily Sitka Sentinel
Criminal Charges Lead to Review of Bus Policy
The arrest of a young man last week who was alleged to have sexually abused a child on a school bus has raised a few questions about the school district’s ridership policies, district officials said.The abuse reportedly occurred on an elementary school bus, where an older student had taken the elementary kids’ bus in order to arrive at school early.
School Superintendent Steve Bradshaw said since the young man was charged, the superintendent’s office has received a few questions about the district’s busing practices, namely of allowing younger and older kids to ride the same bus.
He and Gene Prewitt, owner of Island Bus Company, said around the country it is not unusual to have students of all ages riding the same bus, particularly in rural areas.
However, they said, in Sitka schools open at different times so older and younger students take separate buses.
“We do have a policy in general that the kids ride the buses they’re supposed to, unless there are special needs.” Prewitt said.
There are exceptions to this, Bradshaw and Prewitt said. Sometimes a child will miss his or her own bus and flag down any passing bus for a ride into town, or a student needs to get to school early. The student who is either younger or older than the group on the bus generally sits near the driver, Bradshaw said.
“It’s always been an assumption, that when we have kids riding with younger kids they’re separated,” Bradshaw said. “We always wanted the different age kids riding with the bus driver where we could keep an eye on them. Most of our drivers are aware of keeping the kids separated.”
There has been no written policy to this effect, Bradshaw said, and problems have been rare related to buses.
“In my 14 years I’ve been here, I could count the number of bus issues we’ve had on one hand,” the superintendent said. “That’s not to say bad behaviors don’t happen.”
Prewitt’s records go back further. Island Bus Co. has been the school district’s transportation contractor since 1964, with the exception of five years, and said the policy and practices have worked well. Bradshaw agreed.
“They’ve done a super job for this community,” Bradshaw said.
Bradshaw said he and school board members will talk about whether a new written and formal policy is needed for ridership, but the superintendent questioned whether this will be an improvement.
Last Friday, Bradshaw met with Prewitt and made an additional request that on the K-5 buses, and the grade 6-12 buses, the older kids sit in the back, and younger kids in the front.
Elementary school children this week reported one bus driver lined the kids up by age before allowing them to board, or asked them to raise their hands by grade, to make sure they were sitting with others close to their grade.
And on the continued rare occasions that a middle or high school age kid is on an elementary bus, the older student will be asked to sit near the driver. The same goes with an elementary school student on a grade 6-12 bus, Bradshaw said.
“When you look at how all the years we’ve been doing this and you don’t have problems,” Bradshaw said. “I understand that one situation is one too many. A little common sense on the bus and the problem is taken care of. ... We can’t write a policy that will cover every situation – the more detailed you become, the more difficult it is to understand what your policies are.”
Alexander Pitkaphillip Evans, 18, was indicted Feb. 17 by a grand jury on one count of sexual abuse of a minor in the first degree, and four counts of sexual abuse of a minor in the second degree. He is being held on $100,000 bail. An omnibus hearing is set for March 7.
Evans entered a plea of not guilty at his arraignment. He is being represented by the public defender.
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20 YEARS AGO
March 2004
Matthew C. Hunter of Sitka recently returned from Cuba as part of a St. Olaf College International and Off-Campus Studies program. Hunter, a junior physics major at St. Olaf College, is the son of Robert and Kim Hunter of Sitka.
50 YEARS AGO
March 1974
Eighth graders have returned from a visit to Juneau to see the Legislature. They had worked for it since Christmas vacation ... Clarice Johnson’s idea of a “White Elephant” sales was chosen as the best money-maker; Joe Roth won the political cartoon assignment; highest government test scorers were Ken Armstrong, Joanna Hearn, Linda Montgomery, Lisa Henry, Calvin Taylor and David Licari .....