SANDPOINT — When local contractor Justin Schuck started driving his two children to Farmin-Stidwell Elementary school this fall, it was just two days in that he noticed something he felt needed attention: On the corner of Samuelson Avenue and Woodland Drive, children waited at a school bus stop in the wind, rain and cold, completely unsheltered.

“It was a cold morning, and I saw about 15 kids waiting,” he said. “I drove by in my warm car and thought, these kids probably aren’t too happy.”

Schuck knew the weather would get worse, and as the area grew there might also be more children in need of shelter in the winter months.

So Schuck, the owner of Idagon construction, went to work. First, he contacted the city about building a structure for shelter in the winter. They “jumped right on in,” Schuck said.

Next, he reached out to Brent Lockwood — Schuck’s uncle, and a master carpenter, for help.

Lockwood, who said he considers himself semi-retired, tries to mostly take on what he calls “meaningful projects,” Schuck said.

In this case, Lockwood said, he was delighted to help.

“It’s a harsh location. Kids would be standing out there in howling winter winds,” Lockwood said. “And it’s such a long walk.”

Students from both Farmin-Stidwell Elementary School and Sandpoint High School are picked up at that bus stop, said James Koehler, director of transportation for the Lake Pend Oreille School District.

In the future, the bus at that stop would also transport students to Sandpoint Middle School and Lake Pend Oreille High School if needed, he said.

The city did excavation for the site, Schuck said, and Idagon construction, Lockwood and multiple sub-contractors helped out with the rest. Idagon paid for the structure and parts required, he said.

The company had also done a structure at the Selkirk School of Sandpoint for outdoor learning, Schuck said, so the bus stop shelter was similar with just a few differences. The bus stop has clear polycarbonate sheeting on the side so children are protected and can be seen from outside, he said, and a recently added solar light.

From the time he came up with the idea to the completion of the project, Schuck said, it took about two months.

“Our goal was to get it in before the first big snow, and I think we accomplished that,” he said.

LPOSD Superintendent Tom Albertson said he’s very thankful for Idagon and all the partners in the project who donated time, money and labor.

“I can’t say enough of the wonderful gift that Idagon and especially Justin wanted to provide the community,” he said. “it was all his vision.”

Schuck, who says his company usually chooses a few local projects to help with throughout the year, said the project is an investment in the community. As a finishing detail for the project, he added a message reflective of that at the site.

“We stamped in the concrete to say ‘stay in school,’” he said.