Freshman parent urges board to address morning drop-off chaos and provide clearer onboarding materials

Raquel Cox, who identified herself as a freshman parent at Tinley Park High School, addressed the Bremen CHSD 228 board during public comment on Feb. 18 about persistent morning traffic congestion at student drop-off and what she described as insufficient onboarding information for new families.

Cox said construction in front of the school has exacerbated morning backups and that vehicles arriving from Cicero and 175th Street face long lines, sometimes waiting “about 45” minutes in line to drop students. She said calls to school administrators and the Tinley Park Police Department did not produce a solution for morning staffing and that police advised the district would need sustained traffic issues throughout the day to qualify for stop signs.

Cox also urged the district to create a clearer information packet for incoming freshman parents (a “parent university”), suggesting the packet include where to drop off and pick up students, how and when to obtain student IDs, online payment sites for lunch and other basic logistics. She described feeling uncertain about processes during her family’s first weeks at the high school and said a consolidated packet would help incoming families navigate routine tasks without needing to call multiple offices.

Board response: The board acknowledged the concern on the record and said someone would follow up with Cox.

Why it matters: Morning traffic affects safety and punctuality; clear onboarding materials can reduce family confusion and staff calls. Cox’s comments ask the board to investigate traffic control options and to standardize orientation materials for new families.

Ending: The board recorded Cox’s remarks and committed to follow up; no formal action was taken at the meeting.