Letter: Children at bus stops should be more well behaved

To the editor,

Our house is located on Tuttle Drive and Thomas Avenue in the South Pines development of Hastings. We also happen to be one of many bus stops out here, but continue to have problems. The past two years I have contacted the school, bus company and police and asked for assistance managing the kids here because many of them do not care about someone else's property.

We have a large tree in our yard which kids climb and rip bark off of. They play around in our yard, play catch and have many times hit one or both of our cars, hit our garage doors, and one day I watched a boy push a girl into the street!

The principal at Kennedy school stated it wasn't her responsibility, and she told me to call the bus company. The bus company said if they don't witness it, all they can do is remind kids to behave. They told me to call the police. The police department said they'd send an officer out during the time kids should be around. Of course, the kids acted like perfect angels, and the cop left.

We have lived here for three years now and do not know who all of these kids are or which homes they are from. I am worried someone will be hurt, let alone the damage to my property. I am hoping that the email I sent to the principal this week will get attention.

Who’s responsibility is it to manage these kids? I’m looking for assistance in this matter since I'm not getting far on my own.

Katie Kocherer

Hastings

(Editor’s note: We’d recommend having a conversation with the children’s parents if the problem persists.

In our view, the school principal is right — it is the school’s job to educate our children, not to police bus stops off district property.

It is the bus company’s job to transport our children safely.

It is the police department’s job to ensure our roadways are safe and laws are followed. If damage is being done to property, or if there are people trespassing, the department should be called again, Lieutenant Joe Kegley said.)

Tags: letters to the editor, opinion, hastings, minnesota, spiral, local