Editor's Note: An earlier version of this story incorrectly named the streets involved.
MONROE - Parents with children attending Northside School in Monroe should watch for a change upcoming, perhaps yet this year, for dropping off students in the mornings.
Amy Timmerman, Northside principal, and Ron Olson, Monroe school district business manager, met with the city's Safety Committee on Monday to discuss creating a drop-off area in front of the school. Their idea is to designate a 3-car length drop-off zone, with cars getting in line as they approach the zone but not allowing students to get out of the vehicles until they are in the zone.
Timmerman said the school "continues to have situations" that leave students vulnerable to getting hit by vehicles. A few street parking changes were implemented last year, but Timmerman said children are still "jumping in and out" of traffic from between parked cars.
One concern about the new plan for Timmerman and Olson - and for Police Chief Fred Kelley - is that the drop-off zone would create a string of backed up, waiting vehicles onto 32nd Avenue, which would also block cars that are coming up to the zone from 31st Avenue from getting into line.
Northside is the only school in the district without a drop-off zone, Olson said.
The school is prepared to have staff available outside to help parents and students get used to the idea of using the drop-off zone, when it is implemented. But when it will start is still up in the air.
Kelley said the current system of dropping off students in the morning is "not the best situation."
The Public Safety Committee asked Kelley and city engineer Al Gerber to continue working with the school officials to develop the best workable system, which they will present to the committee in about two to three weeks.
Because of the lateness of the year, painting to designate the drop-off zone may not happen until next spring. Until then, Kelley said roll-out signage may be used. Committee members said the portable signage may make good sense to test the system before putting in permanent signs and paint.
MONROE - Parents with children attending Northside School in Monroe should watch for a change upcoming, perhaps yet this year, for dropping off students in the mornings.
Amy Timmerman, Northside principal, and Ron Olson, Monroe school district business manager, met with the city's Safety Committee on Monday to discuss creating a drop-off area in front of the school. Their idea is to designate a 3-car length drop-off zone, with cars getting in line as they approach the zone but not allowing students to get out of the vehicles until they are in the zone.
Timmerman said the school "continues to have situations" that leave students vulnerable to getting hit by vehicles. A few street parking changes were implemented last year, but Timmerman said children are still "jumping in and out" of traffic from between parked cars.
One concern about the new plan for Timmerman and Olson - and for Police Chief Fred Kelley - is that the drop-off zone would create a string of backed up, waiting vehicles onto 32nd Avenue, which would also block cars that are coming up to the zone from 31st Avenue from getting into line.
Northside is the only school in the district without a drop-off zone, Olson said.
The school is prepared to have staff available outside to help parents and students get used to the idea of using the drop-off zone, when it is implemented. But when it will start is still up in the air.
Kelley said the current system of dropping off students in the morning is "not the best situation."
The Public Safety Committee asked Kelley and city engineer Al Gerber to continue working with the school officials to develop the best workable system, which they will present to the committee in about two to three weeks.
Because of the lateness of the year, painting to designate the drop-off zone may not happen until next spring. Until then, Kelley said roll-out signage may be used. Committee members said the portable signage may make good sense to test the system before putting in permanent signs and paint.