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Parent urges MCCSC to hire Safe Routes to School coordinator after snow and site access problems
Summary
A Bloomington parent told the board that sidewalks and pedestrian access to Tri‑North and other schools remained uncleared and uncoordinated during winter storms and urged the district to hire a Safe Routes to School coordinator.
Greg Alexander, a Bloomington parent, told trustees during public comment on Feb. 25 that the district needs a dedicated Safe Routes to School coordinator to ensure year‑round pedestrian access to schools.
Alexander described conditions after heavy snow when the pedestrian path from his neighborhood to Tri‑North was not cleared by the city, neighbors or the school, forcing children to walk in a driveway used by car‑line traffic. He said he contacted the school front office, which did not recall a pedestrian walker plan, and that school administrators had locked the back door designated for walkers.
“There should be someone at the school who it’s their job to ensure the safety of students going to and from school,” Alexander said. He said principals are already overburdened and that routine responsibilities related to safe routes should not fall solely to building principals.
Why it matters: A dedicated coordinator could centralize responsibilities such as coordinating with city public works for path clearing, ensuring school staff know walker plans and maintaining institutional awareness of pedestrian routes. Alexander asked the board to consider creating a staff position with responsibility for Safe Routes planning and coordination.
