Last week students at St. Anthony’s School were given a primer on highway safety, and more than just helping kids remember how to cross safely, it built resolve at the school that something more needs to be done about highway safety.
The Mail reported in its March 19 edition that the area in front of St. Anthony’s School on North Dinosaur Trail be deemed a “School Area.” This means improved signs, however the current speed limit of 70 kilometres per hour was not changed. .
The school initially planned to have parents and volunteers serve as crossing guards to add another level of safety. They later learned that it would be illegal for parents to act in this capacity unless it was a school zone.
The school also made an effort to teach proper crossing safety to the students and last week a representative from the Alberta Motor Association (AMA) was at the school talking to parents and teachers.
“We had Lisa Nowlin-Clayton, the School Patrol Coordinator from AMA, she came in and did a presentation to the parents. The administration then went all the way through the elementary wing and did a quick presentations on ‘point, pause, proceed,’ with the kids,” said St. Anthony's Principal JoAnne Akerboom.
“What it really showed me is that because we have Kindergarten, and grades one and two in particular, this needs to be a school zone. We had fun with the kids but in the end they are in Kindergarten, they are not paying attention and we can do all the training we want, but they are five years old.”
“We want to keep doing the training because we want to teach our kids, but it would sure be nice if we had a 30 kilometre zone in front of the school so when those little ones are crossing, they have a better chance.”
According to correspondence from Alberta Transportations, new signage is scheduled for completion by May 2014 and will remain on a trial basis until the end of the school year (June 2014). Alberta Transportation will be soliciting feedback from school representatives, local RCMP and the Town of Drumheller on the effectiveness of these changes. Information collected will be reviewed to see if any additional changes are necessary prior to the start of the next school year.
“Our parents are going to track and share with the RCMP, the town and Alberta Transportation so we can be confident the decision we made is a good decision or if we need a school zone,’ said Akerboom. “I told the parents lets resolve this once and for all and gather the information needed.”
She said that she has received many e-mails and reports from parents on close calls and concerns. She says these need to be shared with the police to be put on record.
“I don’t know what we are going to end up with, but doing this survey, tracking for the next six weeks until the end of school, at least we could have a comfort level that the kids are crossing safely,” Akerboom said.
