Horseheads board hears neighbors’ safety concerns about Maple Street pickup at Big Flats Elementary

Residents of Maple Street pressed the Horseheads Central School District board of education on Aug. 14 about persistent traffic and safety hazards during student pickup at Big Flats Elementary School, citing accidents, blocked driveways and difficulties for emergency vehicles.

Neighbors said the problem has worsened since COVID-19 changed pickup patterns and since lane changes around the school. Theresa Goldhwait, a Maple Street resident, told the board she has “encountered situations where deliveries are being made, and the parked cars along the road coupled with the stopped delivery vehicles treat unsafe conditions for traffic.” She said parents now often park on both sides of the street for “30 to 40 minutes before dismissal,” and described a past incident in which “a bus struck a mirror of a van that was parked on my side of the street.”

Her husband, Greg Goldthwait, said he has witnessed collisions and repeated that parents parking on both sides creates a one‑lane situation. “There was an actual school bus accident that actually struck a van’s mirror,” he said, and he urged measures including a “right hand turn only coming out of school, no left hand turns.” Jennifer Piazza, another neighbor, said the line of cars “starts forming an hour prior to pickup” and that parked vehicles sometimes block her driveway.

Superintendent Dr. Douglas responded that the district sympathizes and has limited direct authority over the county road but outlined steps the district is pursuing. He said the district has asked the county to widen a shoulder to create additional parking, is adding about “120 feet along the fence” to create spots where parents can park and go inside to pick up students, and will ask principals to continue instructing families to use busing where possible. “We can’t tell parents not to” park on the road, he said, but the district is coordinating with town and county officials and with the fire department to ensure emergency access.

Neighbors also raised concerns about two nearby development and demolition projects. Speakers said an 80‑unit senior housing project on Hammond Street and a separate 360‑unit apartment project across from XGen could increase local traffic when built. Theresa Goldhwait also asked about demolition of the old fertilizer (Agway) building and possible asbestos or ground‑contamination risks to students. Dr. Douglas said the district has updated filtration systems in buildings and that he will ask the town to monitor demolition work; “we will always try to ensure the safety if we know what’s going on, but we really need the town to monitor,” he said.

District officials and board members described the problem as multi‑jurisdictional. President Christmas thanked the speakers and said the board would consider whether it can take further action; Dr. Douglas and building principals will continue to push the district’s on‑site mitigations and to press county and town partners for traffic enforcement and monitoring of demolition activity.

Votes at a glance: The board approved minutes for items 2.01 and 2.02 (motion carried); approved finance items 6.03–6.05 (motion carried); approved personnel recommendations in 7.02 (motion carried); approved miscellaneous item 8.02 (motion carried); and approved policy 9.02 regarding maximum‑temperature procedures (motion carried; Mr. Conklin recorded an abstention on 9.02). The board also voted to adjourn to an executive session at the start of the meeting to discuss an individual personnel matter (motion carried).