Board discusses traffic-control plan for new Sigueroa Middle School; board asks for formal plan and possible MOU with law enforcement

LAREDO ISD — Trustees spent a substantial portion of the Aug. 4 meeting probing traffic and safety plans for the new Sigueroa Middle School campus and asked district staff to prepare a formal plan for board review and community notice.

Scope of concerns: Trustee Juan Ramirez and others said Loma Del Sur and adjacent roads are high-traffic corridors and that a posted 15-mph school speed would require enforcement and community education. Ramirez urged district planning for staffing and deployment of officers and asked whether the district could install cameras or flashing beacons to deter speeding and to notify drivers of the new school zone.

District and police response: Laredo ISD Police Chief (referred to as “Chief” in the transcript) said the department is working on an action plan with constables. Chief told trustees the district and safety staff have contingency plans for when county or city officers are not available, and agreed to pursue a formal memorandum of understanding (MOU) with county constables or city police for prioritized support during the school start period.

Traffic devices and scope: staff told trustees flashing lights for crosswalks on Loma Del Sur are in the project scope; staff cautioned that code recently changed and some equipment will need ordering to meet new color signaling requirements (yellow flashing that turns red when activated). Staff also said the district will coordinate with the city on possible additional equipment on adjacent roads; the city’s traffic department had asked the district to finalize scope decisions before installing equipment.

Community education: trustees advocated for an early public-information effort — signage, PSAs, and visible enforcement in advance of occupancy — to establish driver expectations before the first day of school. Multiple trustees recommended placing officers and visible deterrents as soon as practical to familiarize motorists with the new school zone.

What’s next: Chief and staff agreed to produce a plan for board review that outlines placement of officers, flashing beacons, cameras and other measures and to explore a formal MOU with law enforcement.

Ending: Trustees said they want a timeline and cost estimates, including options to add cameras to poles being installed for crosswalks.