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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-06-06-STAS-min Ad Hoc School Transportation and Safety Study Committee June 6, 2013 at 9am Conference Room, Central Administration Blg Meeting Minutes 1 Attending. Judy Crocker, Elaine Dratch, MaryEllen Dunn, Sharon Kendall,Jessie Steigerwald (SC liaison) Guest. Bonnie Brown, Shannon Mahoney, Dianna Quedeslleft, Leah Njonoge 2 Meeting minutes for May 2 were not discussed due to time restraints. 3 School Bus Registration Update A) Registration figures Approximately 2400 riders have registered to date. B) Ms. Quedeslleft and Njonoge discussed their frustration at the lack of adherence motorists pay to the do not pass school buses displaying flashing lights law at their local bus stop located at the intersection of Stedman and Allen Rds The issue occurs both in the morning and afternoon but is more prevalent in the morning. Ms. Celi worked with C&W Transportation and has changed the bus stop to the opposite side of the road in the hopes of increasing the bus visibility but the illegal behavior persists. The parents asked Lt Mazerall for a Yield sign to help slow vehicles speed at the intersection. Ms. Dunn said that TSAC sign improvements to the area might be able to be accomplished as part of the capital plan for the new Clarke bus loop The question of whether LPS could be use as a pilot for a school bus stop arm camera study was deliberated but it was thought that there would be too much bureaucracy involved to promptly get the project off the ground. Ms. Steigerwald would like to pursue videoing such incidents and realizes that it would involve a two-year funding process The premise of creating a form letter jointly from LPS and LPD was discussed. It would state that in Lexington, student safety is a priority and reference the state law It would be used as tool to educate those who drive the offending vehicle and would be cc'ed to the LPD, school principal, and perhaps the RMV 4 WorldTech Consultant Update The WorldTech consultant has completed three weeks of school site visits, during which observations involved school traffic patterns and flow, general safety criteria, and transportation mode volume.A preliminary report is expected during the last week of June Evaluations of Lexington's eight school zones are almost complete. 5 Template Draft for Arrival/Dismissal Procedures Feedback has been received from six out of the nine schools regarding draft handbook arrival and dismissal procedures (including bell schedule and the modal basis of school traffic patterns) and live pick-up/drop-off privileges on school property Clarke, Fiske and Hastings did not supply comments Surprisingly, 4 out of 6 elementary schools currently use student name signage for live parking,which the Committee thought would be a new concept for LPS Exceptions were Bridge and Harrington. LHS has requested a meeting with Ms. Dunn to discuss its unique issues of multiple property entrances, open campus policy, and student drivers. A draft based on 5 of the school comments is attached. The final draft with all the respondent comments will follow The definition of an arrival/dismissal emergency was discussed. It should not be confused with a convenience factor for parent's ease at arrival/dismissal. Instead, it involves parents not being able to be available at dismissal due to a family emergency or event. Also,the placard suggested for use for live parking is not to be confused with being the controlling mechanism for live pick-up/drop-off privileges The student line and its management by staff regulate how pick-up/drop-off functions. The placard is utilized as a student accountability tool. 6 Education of Procedure/Policy Changes Ms. Crocker will inquire from Ms Mauger about using a tax bill insert to remind citizens about the no passing of school buses displaying flashing lights law 7 Discussion on engaging parent responsibility and accountability Tabled until the next meeting. 8 Summer Committee Meeting Schedule Due to vacation schedules, it was decided to meet again in June, in late July, and in mid-August. 9 New Business A) The Committee received a parent inquiry about expanding the ES after-school destinations program to include middle schools. However, due to the tiered school bus system used by LPS, it is generally felt that there is not enough time to add these stops to current routes B) It has been discovered that the new Estabrook school has only a tentative transportation plan for when students will occupy the new building from February to June next year as well as for FY15 In addition,there is concern over the proposed purchasing of a pedestrian canopy to be tentatively used by bussers during the former time period. The matter will be followed-up internally by Ms. Dunn and Ms. Steigerwald. C) For the past two years, Ms. Crocker has met in June with Dr Ash and the School Committee Chair in order to review proposed school transportation improvements and staff education to be implemented over the summer months in time for the first day of school. It was decided that this June the meeting's objectives might be best met by involving Ms Dunn and Ms. Steigerwald. Ms. Crocker will send talking bullets for the meeting. D) It was observed that Clarke uses the Stedman Rd gate for arrival only and staff does not supervise its use. This is contrary to the general understanding that it would be open for bus use for both arrival and dismissal and the need for the pedestrian and bus interface to be monitored. E) The local Minuteman ran a public notice of an open bid opportunity for the Dept of Public Facilities for a school sidewalk contractor Ms Crocker was unaware of its purpose through the workings of the Sidewalk Committee and Safe Routes To School. Ms Dunn would look into it. F) The status of ES transportation captains was raised to Ms. Dunn. To date,there is no update to report. Our next meeting will be June 21, 2013 at 9am in the LOWER Conference Room at Central Administration. Respectively submitted, Judy Crocker