The Express-Times Tony Nauroth reports that NASD Superintendent Vic Lesky called for more parents in Lower Nazareth to use the bus to alleviate traffic and reduce the risk of accidents during the school's drop off and pick up (read the article here).
According to the article many people are driving their children to school, but not following the drop off and pick-up procedures, and serious safety issues have arisen. Lesky noted the buses are half empty coming in.
Less then 10 years ago it was decided to bus all the students who lived across Newburg Road. There is a 15mph flasher and was a crossing guard, so safety was not an issue. The problem was parents in the newer parts of the developments didn't want their child to have to walk. They complained to the school, the crossing guard was removed, and the students were bused at taxpayer expense.
A few years ago, because so many people continued to drive their children to school, the Board decided to add to the parking lot so parents and buses had separate routes in the morning. Again, at the convenience of parents and expense of taxpayers.
Not sure in what new ways we can throw money at this problem, so maybe instead we should do in Lower what we do in the borough, make everyone within 1.5 miles walk to school. Traffic couldn't get any worse, there would be a crossing guard for those who drop their kids off on Newburg Road, and the expense of busing would be reduced.
What do you think?
2 comments:
What the heck is the reason for all the drop-offs, anyway? We are walkers at LNES, and I am always astounded by the number of cars lined up to drop off and pick up students. I also get annoyed when I see the more-than-half-empty buses pulling in.
In a discussion with my husband about this issue, he offered a solution that I like. Students who are on a bus route must take the bus; students who walk must walk -- no more drop-offs. If there is some reason that you absolutely must drive your child to school, then you have to come in to the office and sign him/her in, stating the reason that you drove. I know that this idea would never "fly," but if it did, I'm sure that we would see that there aren't a whole lot of truly legitimate reasons for driving kids to school.
I complained with the same arguments when the $500K expansion was done to the roadway around the school to reduce traffic backups on Newburg Road.
I have to disagree with Suzanne on the "walkers". Having been a black path parent, on day where it was raining or when there were sub-zero temperatures, there was no way you could allow your child to walk to school.
LNES give a "pickup pass" to anyone, regardless where you live. And it disgusts me to see half full (most were less) buses pull up knowing my hard earned tax dollars are paying for them.
Some simple solutions. First, only issues "pickup passes" to those that are not provided a bus (black path kids). Then force those that have a bus to first send their kids (and pay for) after school care and ONLY allow them to pick up say 30 minutes after school has been dismissed. I am sure bus utilization will go way up.
Second, allow kids to ride their bikes to school. Something a lot of us did when we were kids. It will eliminate congestion and have the added benefit of giving kids some well needed exercise.
Both options will cost the taxpayers nothing, and will go a long way to eliminating the long pickup/dropoff lines.
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