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ICS to change school schedules to reduce traffic
Elementary, kindergarten schedules to stay the same
Published Friday, September 18, 2009
IRONTON — Citing safety concerns for its student in the wake of ongoing traffic congestion along Delaware Street, Ironton City Schools announced Thursday that it will push up the start and dismissal times for high and middle school students by 15 minutes.
Beginning Monday, Sept. 21, all middle and high school students in the Ironton City School district will now start school at 7:30 a.m. and have dismissal at 2:30 p.m.
Also starting Monday, high and middle school students who ride the bus to and from school should expect the bus to pick them up 10 minutes earlier than their current schedule and drop them off 15 minutes earlier as well.
Class and bus schedules for students in kindergarten through fifth grade are not affected and will not change.
Ironton Schools Superintendent Dean Nance said the decision to “tweak” the schedules for both high and middle school students was done to “improve traffic flow” around the school buildings along with the well-being of the student’s safety and health.
“We made this decision for safety reasons,” Nance said. “We wanted all kids to have the opportunity to eat breakfast and arrive and depart safely from school.”
Nance said notes explaining the changes are being sent home with students this week.
“We appreciate the parents understanding and cooperation in this matter,” Nance said.
The superintendent added that he along with the district’s administrative team discussed multiple options to alleviate congested gridlock on Delaware Street during school hours. Starting last month, every student in grades K-12 began attending classes in one of two buildings located on the far north side of the city.
After years of being scattered throughout Ironton, students in grades K-8 began attending the brand new Ironton Elementary and Middle school building at the end of Delaware Street.
Their arrival, coupled with Ironton High School students being temporarily housed at the district’s former middle school just up the street, has resulted in traffic backups — many of which have stretched nearly a half-mile and had students running through traffic to make sure they were not late for school.
Nance said last month that he encouraged cars needing to drop off or pick up at the temporary high school to come down Delaware Street and make a left at the access road before the old middle school and drop off on the back side of the building.
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Comments
Posted by justconcerned (anonymous) on September 18, 2009 at 3:07 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Traffic is terrible! Perhaps as tellmeabout suggested, a red light at Delaware instead of the caution light may help some BUT what about opening up the access road to Rt 52 that is used when there is flooding? Maybe have someone check with the railroad about putting up the railroad traffic signals and bars? My son started Kindergarten this year and this was my first experience at this school site. I did not realize that street layout was SO BAD!
Posted by Hammer (anonymous) on September 18, 2009 at 5:32 p.m. (Suggest removal)
There was a regular traffic signal at that intersection. They took it out because they said it would ease the school traffic. Guess they were wrong.
Posted by bear (anonymous) on September 18, 2009 at 8:53 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Opening the access road to US 52, even if just on School days and set the times 7 AM til 9 AM and again when school lets out, 2 PM til 4 PM. Have a police officer or some other official stationed there like they do when the access road is used due to flooding.
That would give everyone an alternate route out of the area the schools are in, that should help with the congestion on N 2nd and Delaware.
Ironton may need to look into widening Delaware Str. It is very narrow and no markings on the street.
Posted by Digi (anonymous) on September 19, 2009 at 10:40 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Let's not ask parents or students to get up 15 min earlier to get their whiny kids that are ALWAYS late there on time. Let's just inconvenience everyone lol. typical Ironton solution.
Posted by Digi (anonymous) on September 19, 2009 at 10:42 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Oh and yea, let's use the access road for 52, I'm sure OHP and Hang'n Rock will just LOVE people rushing to get to school on time.
Posted by OLDad (anonymous) on September 19, 2009 at 10:55 a.m. (Suggest removal)
maybe they shouldnt have built a school where theres really one way in and one way out and this wouldnt be a problem...
Posted by swimmingupstream (anonymous) on September 19, 2009 at 5:16 p.m. (Suggest removal)
What happened to the plans to upgrade (widen) Delaware Street? Even new paving would help.
Open the McPherson Street railroad crossing for school traffic? Horrible idea.
A wider road way and the ultimate eliminate of the high school traffic will likely cure the problem. Just need to have some patience.
Posted by covenantthomas (anonymous) on September 19, 2009 at 5:22 p.m. (Suggest removal)
I think it is interesting that safety is the reason stated in the paper that is not the reason given in the letter sent home to the parents nor is it the reason given to the teachers. The community seems oblivious to what is really happening in the district.
Posted by jenilynn (anonymous) on September 22, 2009 at 2:17 p.m. (Suggest removal)
Funny how my comment was deleted. Because Ironton doesn't want to assume responsiblity. As i stated before my children were at school yesterday 3 minutes before the bell rang for school to start. And the letter i received from school Friday stated,"Ironton Middle School, grades 6-8, will begin at 7:40 a.m. Students riding the bus will be dismissed at 2:15 p.m. Students who ride the bus should be at the bus stop 10 min earlier than the previous time. Students who ride the bus home will be dropped off 15 min earlier." And also states how the elementary will remain the same. But my problem is i am sending my children to the bus stop 10 min earlier and the bus picked them up at 5 min. later than usual. So meaning they still get to school when all the other traffic is there. Doesn't make sense. But hopefully today goes better. And when the high school gets moved hopefully that will help alot too.
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