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Stafford says it wants to make walking safer for students Date published: 10/26/2009
BY JEFF BRANSCOME Some Stafford County students who currently walk to school instead of riding the bus may have safer routes next school year, school officials say. At its meeting tomorrow, the School Board will discuss improvements for walkers at eight elementary and middle schools: Kate Waller Barrett, Conway, Hampton Oaks, Park Ridge and Rocky Run elementary schools; and T. Benton Gayle, H.H. Poole and Rodney Thompson middle schools. The proposed work includes installing crosswalks, sidewalks and signs where students are already walking, officials say. Facilities Assessment Engineer Jennifer Spindle said she hopes to start the projects in the summer. The division paid a contractor earlier this year to identify possible safety improvements at 12 elementary and middle schools. Among the eight singled out for improvements, Conway, Rocky Run and H.H. Poole are the only schools where bus service is available to all students. The others draw from neighborhoods where students must get to school by walking or by car. The division initially said the proposed changes would establish or expand those no-bus zones--a possibility that drew criticism from some parents. That's not the thrust of the effort now, administrators say. "We're just doing these things that we think will be the best and safest for those kids who are already walking," Spindle said. While Chief Facilities Officer Scott Horan has said the school system could create or expand its no-bus zones as a result of the work, he recently learned that the division can receive state grants for the projects even if it doesn't eliminate bus service. Many parents are against requiring students to walk for several reasons, including the danger of having them cross streets with heavy traffic. Some expressed their concerns at informational meetings on the proposals in late September and earlier this month. The school system plans to pay for the work with state "Safe Routes to School" grants, which it must apply for by December. The division can receive up to $500,000 a year for safety improvements, but Spindle said she didn't yet know how much the most recent proposals would cost. The School Board is scheduled to vote on the plan at its meeting Nov. 10. Jeff Branscome: 540/374-5402
Read more stories about Stafford Date published: 10/26/2009
The kids at Conway were supposed to be bused ONLY as long as the construction was going on. There is no reason why these kids can't walk! Their neighborhood backs up to the school property. The walk is less than 1 mile for most of these kids. It is safe to walk to school. Let's take the money saved by these kids walking and put it in the classrooms instead of in the bus gas tanks.
I believe this is more about future cost savings in the way of budget cuts as opposed to helping our children. Who in their right mind would let their Kindergarder , 1st grader, 2nd grader or 3rd grader walk too school by themselves... The truth of the matter is... If we don't protect our children who will.. This effort is not meant to protect our children.. Do not believe it..
I believe this is more about future cost savings in the way of budget cuts as opposed to helping our children. Who in their right mind would let their Kindergarder , 1st grader, 2nd grader or 3rd grader walk too school by themselves... The truth of the matter is... If we don't protect our children who will.. This effort is not meant to protect our children.. Do not believe it..
•The rest of the 800,000 missing cases include runaways, throwaways, or lost children.
In a county of 3 million people
•Of the children reported missing, 350,000 are family abductions. That is, they are taken away by family members in violation of custody agreements.
•Non – family abductions amount to 204,000. These include kidnappers who are acquaintances or complete strangers to the victims.
•Only 115 of non-family abductions are stereotypical abductions, defined as those in which a child is detained overnight, transported atleast 50 miles, held for ransom or intended to be kept permanently or killed.
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