Dear Families,
I am writing out of concern for our student safety on campus. I am asking for your consideration and cooperation. I am witnessing some very unsafe behaviors after school during pick up time. First, many people are moving the cones that I have placed blocking the staff parking. Cars are double and triple parked in the lot in front of the ESS building, and left unattended. This is a safety issue for many reasons. We must have a clear passageway at all times that can accommodate an emergency vehicle. If there are cones in place, that means that you are not to go in. Do not get out and move them. The only vehicles allowed in that area are Handicapped and the Covert family. The Coverts purchased a PTA spot as they paid for the parking space at Carnival. The money from that space is used to support our wonderful programs.
In addition, There are many people blocking passage in front of the Multi-Purpose room and telling their children to meet at the lunch tables. This is not allowed. If you are picking up a student in a car, you MUST use the pick up circle. I am seeing parents call to their students to run across the parking lot. This is a very unsafe practice. I see parents calling to their students to cross Lakeview where they are parked across the street. Again, this is an unsafe practice.
As the Principal of this school I am responsible for the safety of our students. I hate to have to be the "Bad Guy" outside, but student safety is the most important thing to me. There are currently two choices for pick up.
One- Park in a legal spot on the street or in the parking lot...Please do not park in front of the gates where students and cars cannot see coming traffic, or blocking the exits.
Two- Use the pick up circle service that we provide for your convenience. I know it takes time, but it is still the best way to pick up your child and alleviate parking problems.
Again, please know that all of this is a convenience that many schools do not provide. Most schools do not allow cars on campus at all. If you have told your child to meet you somewhere to jump in the car, and he/she is not there, it is because they were moved to the pick up circle. As crazy as it is, it takes 13 minutes to clear our campus.
I want to say thank you to all of you who follow the school rules during drop off and pick up times. You are helping to keep our children safe!
Sincerely,
Ms Taylor
