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Parents ask district to rework Slade drop-off, seek Safe Routes to School committee
Summary
Slade-area parents told the Albany County School District #1 board about near-miss traffic incidents, blocked crosswalks and poor lighting and asked the board to form a Safe Routes to School committee and revisit crosswalk placement, crossing guards and signage.
Parents and community members told the Albany County School District #1 Board of Trustees on Tuesday night that children are at risk around Slade Elementary and urged the board to help form a Safe Routes to School committee.
"Before Christmas I was driving the two boys to school … there was a car in the bus lane that sped around the bus and almost hit the boys," said Lisa Evans, a Slade parent. "I was panicked. Thank God I don't have to finish the sentence on what could have been." Evans asked the board to consider moving a crosswalk, deploying crossing guards and improving crosswalk alerts and lighting.
Shandell McDonald, who said she organized a recently formed Slade task force, told trustees she has collected parents' safety complaints in the three weeks since the group started and has shared a list of suggested fixes with district staff. "We don't just come here to complain," McDonald said. "We want to have solutions and ideas to fix this."
McDonald outlined several parent-reported trouble spots: a crosswalk at 13th and Shields with parked cars that block visibility; a crosswalk at Reynolds and 13th that parents avoid because visibility is poor; and a large driveway near a crosswalk where drivers turning right pull out in close proximity to pedestrians. Parents also reported a lack of lighting in the Slade parking/drop-off area used by Rock River families for morning pickup.
Both speakers said they have contacted district staff, including Randy Wilkerson and Superintendent Dr. Goldhart, and that the city has indicated possible funding this year subject to broader governmental approvals. The parents asked the board to convene a district-wide Safe Routes to School committee to inventory problems and propose prioritized fixes.
The board paused the speakers for time but asked for the emailed materials; McDonald said she already had emailed proposals to the board over the weekend.
District staff did not announce any immediate actions at the meeting; trustees asked that the parents provide their written proposals so staff can review and report back.
The public comment occurred during the audience communication portion of the meeting.
