Yellowknife (Feb 24/03) - Attendance at school may never be better now that a shiny new school bus is making the rounds.

"Children are very excited to use the bus," says Alex Buchan, vice-president of the district education authority.

The bus takes away a few excuses, too. Weather is no longer a reason to keep children home, nor is a long walk a stay-home reason, Buchan says.

But most of all, the quick bus ride means children at Jimmy Hikok Ilihakvik elementary school have an extra half-hour of gym play time before hitting the books.

"Given that the children will be waking up sooner and playing before class, they will be more attentive in class when they get there," Buchan says.

There are a few growing pains for the bus system.

"We do not know if operating the bus within one hour of the start of school means that some children are leaving without breakfast," Buchan observes. "We are prepared for this eventuality and are monitoring it."

Also in need of monitoring are some Kugluktuk motorists. It is the law to stop both ways when a school bus halts to pick up students.

"During the first run of the bus, three vehicles approaching from the front did not stop for the bus," Buchan says.

Police and hamlet bylaw officers will be reminding all drivers to stop.

The bus runs in the morning only, but it will be available for other use in the hamlet -- pickups for elders' meetings, for example -- but can't be rented out.

"We don't have an after-school run because many children go elsewhere before going home and funding for this is limited," Buchan says.

As for the driver, the possibility of rowdy kids screaming and carrying on isn't a problem.

"Our older students have been coached to help younger students act properly on the bus, and I think it gives our guys a chuckle to see the students so excited to have a ride to school," Buchan says.

"It is very cheery compared to driving alone in a loader or a sewage truck."