Updated Video: Walking To School In Gardendale - Some Say It’s Not Safe
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Is It Safe Walking To Gardendale Schools?
Sots: parents, Asst Supt Dr Yancy Morris, Video of busy intersections, schools, construction
The problem - several busy intersections and roads that a couple of parents believe aren’t safe to drive let alone walk.
To solve the problem, several questions remain - which solution is best, where will the money come from and who should make it happen?
Busy construction, no crosswalks and blind curves, this is what some Gardendale students face while walking to and from school.
Gardendale Parent, Robyn Chapin, said, “We’ve had a few kids who’ve had to cross this road behind us in the afternoon with no crossing guards, no help”
For Gardendale parents Robyn Chapin and Darlene Winston crossing this road and others can be scary.
Gardendale Parent, Darlene Winston, said “It’s just a matter of safety. Children should be kept safe and it’s our responsibility. We need to be proactive in helping all the children, not just our own.“
When you’re walking on the side of the road, you’re supposed to be walking against traffic. There are no easily accessible sidewalks on either side of Mount Olive Road.
Robyn and Darlene would like the Jefferson County School Board to waive a two mile radius bus restriction and have busing for all students. They’re also open to adding crossing guards and a crossing signal.
Jefferson County Schools Assistant Superintendent, Dr Yancy Morris said, “We actually do have some waivers in the county, part of it in Gardendale on Highway 31.“
Dr. Morris said, it would not be cost effective to waive the two mile rule.
Dr Morris said, “If a parent knows that it’s busy, why don’t they drive them?“
That’s Dr. Morris’ first suggestion. The other - the protocol is for parents to first approach the principal on a hardship basis, to get their children added to a bus route.
As for a crossing guard and signal at that intersection – Dr. Morris said parents must turn to their local government for help.
Both Robyn and Darlene have heard some of Dr. Morris’ solutions and believe they aren’t adequate.
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Reader Reactions
Since the NBC and North Jefferson Newspaper media covered of the 2-Mile Rule, I have been contacted by a member of the Board of Directors at the JeffCo Board of Education (BOE) advising the Board will assist families who live within the 2-Mile radius of school and justifiably needs school bus service. An individual family or designated representative of a neighborhood if there are multiple families involved can contact Nancy Spangler at BOE #379-2000 who will then arrange a meeting with the Board Members to aid in arranging school bus transportation where needed.
In this day and time where fuel is still at an all-time high while budgets are being cut, this seems to be the best immediate solution. I encourage everyone to help pass this information on to others.
Nevertheless, Gardendale still needs to have turning signals and walk signals installed at their major crosswalks for obvious safety reasons, especially since it involves child safety.
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