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School district asks council to allow Mary Jane one‑way during drop‑off and pickup to improve safety
Summary
Lebanon school district superintendent Matt Noise asked the city committee to authorize making Mary Jane Street a temporary westbound one‑way during arrival and dismissal (about 7:15–8 a.m. and 30–45 minutes at dismissal) to reduce pedestrian risk after a student was struck last year; staff will draft ordinance language and research liability and signage options.
Matt Noise, the district superintendent, told the Lebanon City Council committee on Aug. 18 that the district wants permission to operate Mary Jane Street as a one‑way westbound only during school arrival and dismissal periods to protect students crossing between campuses.
Noise said the change is aimed specifically at the narrow windows when parents, buses and student traffic converge and recalled that last year a student was hit while using a crosswalk on Mary Jane. "It was a really, really bad situation," he said, describing the district safety committee's work and noting a three‑day trial after classes resumed that showed the routing eased dangerous crossing conditions.
Council members and staff pressed the district on practical details. City staff asked for limits on timing and signage; district leaders proposed roughly 7:15–8 a.m. and about 30–45 minutes at dismissal, for the school year only. Cody, a city staff member, said he would "definitely do some research" on whether the city can authorize time‑limited one‑way restrictions and what signage or lane markings would be required. The committee discussed bus routing, GPS‑directed drivers who might turn into the flow, and the need for temporary removable signage.
Police involvement and enforcement was central to the discussion. The district said Officer Pucket and school staff have been directing traffic during the trial period and that having a uniformed officer on site has made motorists comply more consistently. City members said the plan would be more acceptable if an adult or officer were reliably posted while the one‑way was in effect.
On liability and legal authority, council members asked the city attorney to draft simple ordinance language that would designate Mary Jane a one‑way street during specified hours of the school year, and to confirm the liability implications. The district said it would pay for any temporary signage the city required and was willing to maintain the short street segment.
No formal vote occurred at the committee meeting; members indicated consensus to move the proposal to the city council with staff and the city attorney drafting implementing language and researching operational details. The council said the item could appear on the agenda as soon as next week or within a few weeks depending on attorney review and language refinement.
The committee asked staff to return with recommended ordinance text, a plan for temporary signage and a clarification of enforcement responsibilities and any required approvals so the full council can consider a formal ordinance.
