Driver in training; students are waiting
Maria Canton
Northern News Services
Pond Inlet (Dec 04/00) - It has been from Montreal to the far end of Baffin Island, but the community's first school bus has yet to make to the hamlet streets.
No one is qualified as yet to drive the bright yellow school bus that arrived on the summer sealift.
Driver training, safety classes and vehicle inspections should be complete by Christmas, according to the District Education Authority.
"The students can hardly wait and with the weather getting cold it will be perfect timing," said Jeeteeta Merkosak, a DEA member.
The RCMP is instructing all students on how to safely board and ride the bus.
Cpl. Grant MacDonald said that because this is Pond Inlet's first school bus before, they want everyone to be as informed and aware as possible to prevent any accidents.
At the Ulaajuk Elementary School, principal Steve Handspiker said his 245 students are excited.
"The need for a school bus has been expressed by the community for quite some time," said Handspiker.
"The students are happy they won't have the long walk in cold weather any more."
