Markeshia Ricks Photos
Mauro Sheridan Principal Kaliszewski at bus arrival Friday.
A crossing guard was hit by a car near the intersection of Grand and Ferry Friday, just as city officials were across town urging drivers in school zones to slow down and stop passing school buses.
Officer Robert DuPont giving a driver a ticket Friday.
Police Chief Anthony Campbell delivered that news Friday morning in front of Mauro Sheridan School on Fountain Street as yellow school buses pulled up to drop off students. The crossing guard was not badly injured, but he said the incident illustrated why drivers need to slow down.
“Our children are our most valuable asset,” he said. “Every year we get complaints about people going around the school buses. But it’s not just children. We have numerous crossing guards who make sure our children get to school safely.”
Officer John Palmer: on duty.
Campbell said that means that schools like Mauro Sheridan, where complaints from parents and school officials have been high, will see stepped up enforcement. People will also see more cops writing tickets near all of the city’s 48 public schools during drop off and pick up times, he said.
That was good news to Mauro Sheridan Principal Sandy Kaliszewski. She said the school has a strict dismissal plan and no child or staffer ever has been hit by a car. Still, far too often people are speeding on Fountain Street and passing stopped school buses that clearly have their stop bar and signs out, she said. She said each day of the school year, 25 buses bring in and ferry back out students throughout the city and to neighboring towns.
“We’re asking you to slow down,” she said.
Harp: Children are more important than your being late to work.
“Peoples’ lives are more important than people being five or ten minutes late for work,” said Mayor Toni Harp. “One of the first things you learn when you learn to drive is that you don’t go around school buses with flashing lights. But we see it every day. It’s got to stop.”
Passing a stopped school bus with flashing lights and stop bars out comes with a hefty fine. A few people, despite seeing the gaggle of motorcycle cops parked in front of the school, found out the hard way heading into the Labor Day weekend Friday morning. The penalty is a cool $465.
West Hills/Amity Alder Richard Furlow, whose district includes Mauro Sheridan, said that calming the traffic on Fountain Street is something that he has been working with city and school officials and the police for the past three years. He asked people to do one thing: pretend.
“Pretend that your child goes here and conduct yourself accordingly,” he said.