School Buses

If Washington County officials decide to put cameras on the outside of some school buses to catch drivers who illegally pass the buses, only the captured images of those violations would be kept, Sheriff Doug Mullendore assured school board officials Tuesday night. A vendor would watch the camera footage in real time, marking the clip needed and almost immediately destroying the rest of the footage, Mullendore told Washington County Board of Education members during a meeting at the central office off Commonwealth Avenue in Hagerstown.

Samples of the O'Malley-Brown Transition Report's recommendations: · Parole and probation: Improve monitoring and tracking of child sex offenders · Agriculture: Promote biodiesel use in school buses · Environment and natural resources: Increase the transfer tax on farms that are converted to development · Health and mental hygiene: Establish a dental clinic in every local health department ...

Last week, CSX finally responded to a question about an unused spur of railroad tracks in Hagerstown by saying it's staying. The question came up earlier this month as The Herald-Mail looked at why school buses stop at railroad crossings that are no longer used and marked by “exempt” signs. It turns out Maryland law requires school buses to stop at all visible tracks. “Exempt” signs don't change anything. City Engineer Rodney Tissue wrote in an email about one particular example: “In this case, CSX has a spur that crosses East Wilson Blvd and heads northeast across Frederick Street toward the former First Urban Fiber plant (near the baseball stadium)

Greencastle council briefs GREENCASTLE, Pa. - Residents of the first block of Linden Avenue that runs south off East Baltimore Street will face some new parking restrictions following the Greencastle Borough Council's adoption Monday night of a new ordinance. The new law bans parking on the left side of Linden Avenue from East Baltimore Street to the first alley. School buses coming up the street had to cut over the center line to make the turn onto East Baltimore Street because of parked cars on the left side, council members said.

CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. - A Pennsylvania Department of Transportation plan to tear down an overpass on Interstate 81 is being opposed by the Chambersburg Area School District. "It makes no sense to remove a perfectly good bridge that we use quite often," School Board President D. Eugene Gayman said Tuesday of plans to tear down the Walker Road overpass. The resolution opposing demolition of the overpass was approved on a 7-2 vote. Earlier this year, transportation officials unveiled Alternative D Modified for a proposed Exit 7. The plan calls for building the diamond interchange 1,300 feet south of the Walker Road overpass and demolishing the existing bridge.

As the school year starts, AAA Mid-Atlantic has the following suggestions for drivers: Slow down in or near school and residential areas, and be sure to come to a complete stop at all intersections. Drive with your headlights on, even during the day, so children and other drivers can see you. Watch for clues such as crossing guards, bicycles and playgrounds, which indicate children could be in the area. Scan between parked cars and other objects for signs that children could dart into the road.

BOE considers 70 capital upgrades at a cost of more than $100 million The Washington County Board of Education is considering whether to approve more than 70 capital improvement projects that would cost more than $100 million. School officials presented the list of projects to the board during a meeting Tuesday at the Washington County Public Schools office building in Hagerstown. The capital improvement projects, which include roof and window upgrades at several schools in Washington County, would take place from fiscal years 2011-16, according to school documents.

laurae@herald-mail.com ANNAPOLIS - Washington County lawmakers on Tuesday hastily withdrew a bill to extend the life of school buses after learning about possible safety concerns. In December, the Washington County Commissioners had asked for state authority to keep its school buses on the road for up to 15 years as a cost-saving measure. Right now, buses must be retired after 12 years. A month later, local lawmakers unanimously agreed to file a bill, which was similar to legislation the Maryland General Assembly passed last year for three Eastern Shore counties.

Board of Education briefs 11/21 Algebra II, precalculus books may be purchased The Washington County Board of Education is considering purchasing algebra II and precalculus textbooks for $85,959. At Tuesday morning's work session, the School Board discussed buying 800 algebra II textbooks and practice workbooks at $57.85 each, for a total of $46,284. The textbooks the algebra II students now use were published in 1992. The board also discussed buying 500 precalculus textbooks at $79.35, for a total of $39,675, which includes materials, software and shipping.

Why don't drivers use turnarounds for school buses? To the editor: One of my corporations has been involved in land development; I have subdivided six tracts of land in Washington County. I have donated to Washington County all rights-of-way and land for water control, too. I have given the county 50 feet to 60 feet of roadways and cul-de-sacs large enough to turn around 85- to 90-foot tractor-trailer rigs and school buses. My beef is: Why don't our school buses use them for turning around?