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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012-01-05-STAS-min Ad Hoc School Transportation and Safety Study Committee Meeting Minutes Thursday January 5, 2012 at 9am Town Hall Room G-15 Present: Elaine Celi (LPS Transportation Coordinator), Marty Cohen, Judy Crocker (Chair), MaryEllen Dunn (LPS Assistant Superintendent for Finance &Business), Captain Manual Ferro (LPD), Sharon Kendall, Craig Weeks Liaisons: Deb Mauger (Board of Selectmen), Jessie Steigerwald (School Committee) Guests: Bonnie Brown 1. Welcome! Introductory remarks were made at the first meeting of the ad hoc School Transportation and Safety Study Committee,hereto referred to as STS.After members introduced themselves, a brief history of the Committee's origins and its formal charge were reviewed. In March 2011, a survey was conducted of Lexington's public school families in order to better understand how the present school transportation system serves the needs of its students. Its goal was to gather information on how to best improve issues such as traffic and safety at our nine neighborhood schools. The compiled data is included in the School Transportation Report 2011.At presentations of the Report made to the Board of Selectmen and School Committee, Safe Routes To School inquired if a small focusgroup could be convened to oversee action items based on suggestions listed. The end result is the STS. 2. Housekeeping items. Various administrative and procedural protocols were reviewed. These included: • Open meeting laws and the Conflict of Interest Statute requirements • The secretarial duties for the meeting minutes will rotate. • STS consists of seven voting members (representatives from the Sidewalk Committee/Safe Routes To School, LPS Administration, LPS Transportation Coordinator, LPD/TSAC, TAC, and two community-at- large members) and two nonvoting members (the Board of Selectmen and School Committee liaisons). • STS agreed to meet regularly on the first Thursday of each month at 9am. However,the Committee may choose to meet more frequentlyin order to efficiently address identified action items. • The Committee'slength of term is undefined,but recognizes that approximatelya 2-yeartenureis expected. • STS voted unanimously to elect Judy Crocker as Chair. 3. Committee Packet. A packet of potentially useful information was distributed to each Committee member prior to this STS meeting. Some of its contents were reviewed. These included: the Committee charge, membership contact information, School Transportation Report 2011, School Transportation Report 2011 PowerPoint presentation (used to date), DRAFT proposed action items, and DRAFT Committee calendar. The packet also contains current individual school dismissal policies, outline of proposed Minuteman articles for the STS and SRTS bi-weekly column, misc. 2011-12 school bus data, Lexpress and MBTA fliers, along with numerous items containing historical information, handouts, and projects previously attempted which were thought to be useful given the context of the STS's charge. 4. Discussion of DRAFT proposed action items. A listing of proposed action items from the School Transportation Report 2011 was discussed. Subheadings included: • Pedestrian/Bicycle safety • Safety&Traffic Calming • PR&Communication • School Bus Cost • School Bus ridership • Schools • Incentives to Walk, Bus, Ride to School • Disincentives for personal cars on school grounds The discussion covered numerous aspects of what may be needed to promote change,the merits of some of the listed items, and overarching comments. These included: • Installing bike racks at Harrington • Legal code regulation for school zone signage -through the BoS, exploring an option to adopt Ch96.17 for incorporating LHS into a LPS school zone • Cost of parental behavior- using the Town Meeting petition to better explain the busing cost structure to the community • The difference between expected versusacceptedcitizen behavior. Rules need to be enforced on and off school property in a clear manner. LPD -have Dr.Ash speak to legal council and BoS pass by- laws. Captain Ferro spoke of efficiencies of drop-off routine in Westford when Ms.Anton was its school principal. • Choices and consequences of behavior • Time sensitivities with principals regarding student arrival/dismissal. • Following Ms. Dunn's school bus contract discussion with the PTA President's Council earlier this month, it was suggested that a parent survey be conducted in March to gauge how parents feel about proposed school bus service changes. The survey might query arrival and dismissal time, and bus cost. It could be used as an educational tool for staff/school department and parents. • Redirect ETF conversations to include school busing in its site discussions.Also,to promote walking in Estabrook's adjoining neighborhoods. 5. New business- Estabrook student busing during school construction. As part of its budgetary process, Ms. Steigerwald opened the discussion of how the School Committee is presently considering whether Estabrook students should 1) receive subsidized busing during the construction phase of its new school building and 2) if so, to what degree.Any input from the community will be needed for its Jan 17th meeting. M. Dunn stated that it would cost$225,000/year for two years to cover the cost of the 6 buses needed to transport the majority of the Estabrook population. Concerned with volume of single-occupancy cars on school grounds during arrival and dismissal, Ms. Crocker and Ms. Celi added that an Estabrook Task Force (ETF) subcommittee conducted an Estabrook parent survey in September 2011.When asked if students would participate in a free or subsidized bus service during construction, 78% responded yes.Add to this the 12%who walk to Estabrook, and the total is 90% -which is roughly the same figure of Fiske students who took advantage of free busing during its school construction. Following a discussion of safety and traffic concerns, STS made the following motion- made by Mr.Weeks and seconded by Captain Ferro. The vote was unanimous with 8 votes (one member in absentia as he had to leave the meeting prior to adjournment). • Due to safety concerns,the ad hoc School Transportation and Safety Study Committee made the motion to recommend to the Lexington School Committee to provide free school bus service for the Estabrook Elementary School during the construction of its new school building. 6. Assignments: • Members will edit the DRAFT of proposed action items. • A motion will be sent to the School Committee as voted upon. • Dave Canon (Engineering) and Marc Valenti (DPW) will be asked if the Lexington GIS includes school zone signage. (IC) • Mary Anton, Bowman principal,will be asked about school dismissal policies utilized in the Westford school system. • Code for school zone signage will be investigated. (MF) 7. Meeting adjourned at 11am. The next meeting will be on January 19, 2012 at 9am in the Town Hall Room G- 15. Ms. Steigerwald will serve as secretary. Respectfully submitted, Judy Crocker