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Board discusses draft pedestrian-safety resolution after recent student strikes; seeks joint action with city
Summary
Following a series of student-vehicle strikes (seven incidents since Aug. 12, 2024 with two fatalities), board members proposed a draft resolution calling for a traffic-safety week, a task force and joint appropriations requests; trustees discussed urgent letters to city leadership and a potential joint resolution with the city council.
Several board members raised urgent pedestrian-safety concerns during the workshop after staff said seven Duval County Public Schools students had been struck by vehicles since Aug. 12, 2024, including two fatalities. A board member read a draft resolution urging immediate action and proposing a multi-pronged response: an annual traffic-safety week, an interagency task force to develop a community action plan, and efforts to pursue joint grant requests for pedestrian infrastructure improvements.
The draft opened with data points about city growth and pedestrian fatalities and singled out the recent district incidents. "Be it resolved that the Duval County School Board directed superintendent to establish an annual traffic safety week to educate students and families," the draft read.
Trustees debated timing and scope. Several members urged an immediate letter to city and county leadership and suggested a joint board-council resolution to raise urgency and unlock city and state grant programs (Safe Routes to School, FHWA Vision Zero/Target Zone initiatives). Board members discussed convening elected officials, the mayor's chief of staff and the sheriff's office and proposed public-facing communications including PSAs and coordinated media outreach.
Staff and trustees also emphasized infrastructure and programmatic elements: sidewalk and crossing improvements, targeted grant applications, student education (helmets, safe walking practices) and law-enforcement partnerships. The superintendent said staff were compiling a briefing on the seven incidents (locations, time of day, crossing conditions) to inform next steps.
No formal vote was recorded; board members asked staff to refine the draft, coordinate with city officials and return with language for consideration at a near-term agenda meeting.
