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Parents press board for immediate fixes to bus parking at Julian Curtis and lighting at Cardinal Stadium
Summary
Multiple speakers, including PTA leaders and parents, urged the board and administration to fix unsafe bus parking at Julian Curtis and resolve stadium lighting problems that caused recent darkness at a home football game. Superintendent said administrators are actively working on bus parking solutions and expressed optimism improvements are forthcoming.
Parents, PTA leaders, and athletics supporters urged immediate action on two facilities issues: long-standing bus-parking at Julian Curtis and lack of adequate lights at Cardinal Stadium.
Safety concerns about buses: Speakers described buses parked on muddy fields at Western and Julian Curtis that force staff to park on grass and create safety risks for preschoolers and parents during arrival and dismissal. "We still don't have a long term bus parking solution," Frances Funobe said during public comment, noting photos of buses in deep mud and calling for answers "in weeks, not months." PTA leaders and parents described 11 buses now using Julian Curtis and warned that winter weather will make the situation more hazardous.
Stadium lights: Several speakers, including parents and student-athletes, urged the BOE to authorize use of lights at Cardinal Stadium. Jennifer Young described a recent home football game where by 4:45 p.m. it was "already so dark that they can barely see the ball," raising safety concerns and calling the situation an "embarrassment."
Administration response: Superintendent Jones addressed both items in her report and said district staff are working hard on the bus parking problem and that she was more optimistic at this meeting than at last month's. Board members signaled intent to press for interim and longer-term solutions and to coordinate with town officials where the parking is a municipal issue.
Next steps: Superintendent and staff will continue to work with the contractor and municipal partners on a short-term contingency plan for bus parking and a longer-term solution; board members said they expect status updates in the coming weeks. For stadium lighting, parents said additional planning is required and asked the board to prioritize funding or approvals to permit evening play safely.
Ending: Community members urged the BOE to treat the bus-parking fix and stadium lighting as immediate safety priorities; the superintendent said the district is actively pursuing solutions.
