Hamilton PD requests pickup safety at elementary school

HAMILTON — During the Monday, Aug. 5, Hamilton City Council meeting, Hamilton Police Chief Jordan Carter spoke a few moments on safety issues regarding the pickup of children from Hamilton Elementary School.
The chief also asked for everyone’s patience at all the schools as they pick their children up after school each day.
“During the first week, we will have officers everywhere there is congestion,” he said. “We’re telling everyone to be patient. And we’ll make sure we have plenty of officers to help.”
Carter said one area of concern is the HES pickup area on Highway 17.
“We’re asking drivers to try not to block Highway 17 at the bottom of the hill,” he said. “We understand you want to get there and line up early, but that can sometimes cause congestion.
“Sometimes, we’re having to stop traffic and then put the buses on the wrong side of the road.
“If you see it’s congested, maybe circle the block or sit at the walking track for a few moments and wait until the flow of traffic starts moving again.
“It’s dangerous to be lined up in that area with semi trucks and people coming down that hill. Please don’t line up in the road or block traffic. Maybe go and wait in a parking area somewhere.”
Regarding school bus safety, Carter reminds drivers to stop when they see a school bus with flashing lights.
“Go ahead and apply your breaks when you see the flashing lights and stop,” he said. “We do want to encourage safety around school buses. Children are unpredictable.
“We hope they follow procedures crossing the highway or going home, but they may see a loved one at the edge of the road and run to see them--and then it’s too late. Stop when you see a school bus stopped.”
Asked about the construction ongoing at the elementary school, where the individual classrooms are being enclosed with a combined hallway for each wing, the chief noted the children are more protected.
“It’s definitely looking a lot better than

back in my elementary school days,” he said.

Principal responds
HES Principal Gary McCarley was asked if he had any suggestions on the traffic situation at his school.
He stressed there was no need for everyone to arrive very early to pick up children, but also offered another solution to help with traffic flow.
“The best option is for the kids to ride the bus,” he said. “They’re going to leave as soon as the buses get loaded in the afternoon and they’re going to go home. So, there’s not a wait in the line, as far as the car line goes.
“In the morning, traffic is not that big of a deal. The problem is in the afternoon, because we keep the gates in the back locked until 2:30 p.m.
“We’re not going to start calling kids until 2:50 p.m. to load cars, so there’s no need in being here at 1 p.m. or 2:30 p.m. If you showed up at 2:45 or 2:50, those would be the ideal times, because the traffic is moving then around the parent drive.”
The parent drive is located behind the school around the playground area and is where the children are picked up after school.
“The problem is too many people get here before that 2:30 p.m. time period when those gates are opened,” McCarley said. “The best options not to have the problem on Highway 17 is for kids to either a) ride the bus or b) parents wait and show up at 2:45 p.m. or later. Again, we won’t call any kids until 2:50 p.m.”
Regarding student transportation, McCarley also noted children who are dropped off at school in the morning are also welcome to ride the bus home.
“They can do it either way,” he noted. “Parents or guardians can drop them off in the mornings and then have the kids ride the bus in the afternoon or vice-versa.”
The principal said to get added to the school bus list, just contact your student’s homeroom teacher and let them know what you’d like your student to do--to ride the bus one way or both ways.
Regarding the school construction and enclosing the wings on the school, McCarley noted there are still several weeks until the buildings will be completed.
Three other good ideas concerning school traffic safety include being courteous, driving slower and leaving yourself extra traveling time, so as to not have to speed to your destination. You and other school traffic are all carrying precious cargo.