Cannon County schools seek city donation of West Colonial Street to improve student drop-off safety

Cannon County school officials told the board March 13 they will ask Woodbury city council to transfer a strip of West Colonial Street that runs along Cannon County Elementary and Middle schools into school property so the district can control traffic at the student drop‑off.

The principal leading the request described repeated near‑misses in the drop‑off lane and said that because the area remains a public street, school staff cannot legally ticket drivers who use it as a through street. “They can’t legally ticket someone because it’s a street,” the principal said. The principal said she has personally been nearly hit while exiting and has observed cars driving through the area during school dismissal.

Officials said city and school leaders — including the mayor, the city’s public safety chief and school staff — met and agreed to explore transfer of the parcel. The board was asked to give staff permission to approach city council and request that the council consider donating the parcel and making related traffic changes, such as reestablishing a former one‑way pattern on a nearby road and improving crosswalk painting.

The district indicated the transfer would require deed work and a small funding allocation for processing and physical work such as painting and possible concrete changes. The mayor and city staff agreed to assist with crosswalk painting and to pursue a public notification process; officials said any reconfiguration would not take effect this school year but could start with the next school year’s traffic plan.

Board members asked for staff to proceed with the city request; the transcript shows discussion and planning but does not include a roll‑call vote on a formal motion in the record.