HANNIBAL - Shelby County schools know how to get things done quickly.  On Friday, October 30, they celebrated the completion of their new loading and unloading area for busses with a ribbon cutting.  MoDOT, Klingner and Associates, Bleigh Construction, school faculty and several children participated in a completion walk and the ribbon cutting in the newly constructed area.  The entire student body came outside to watch the walk and the ribbon cutting.  The project was funded with a Safe Routes to School Grant and cost almost $120,000 and was completed in just nine months, which includes application approval, planning, engineering and construction.

"The new loading and unloading area takes the busses off of West College Street, so children can walk safely into the school," said Paula Gough, MoDOT NE District Engineer.

Those participating in the ceremony included MoDOT NE District Engineer Paula Gough, Mark Bross of Klingner & Associates Engineering, Louie Vannetta of Bleigh Construction, Rick Roberts, superintendent of Shelby County schools, Susan See, principal of Shelbina Elementary, and Bob Manzke, MoDOT Transportation Planning Liaison.

Cutline for photo:  Superintendent of Shelby County Schools Rick Roberts (far left) and John Schaefer, MoDOT Safe Routes to Schools Coordinator, hold the "paper dolls" ribbon for several of the Shelbina Elementary children to cut. The ceremony was held on the new loading and unloading area built with a grant from the Safe Routes to School program.