Resumption of classes is a time of adjustment for all
Another summer vacation is drawing to a close as students prepare for their first days back in the classroom looking ahead to a new academic year full of promise.
It is always an exciting time — a time of reconnecting with friends, of fresh starts and new hopes.
This year, students are returning to school buildings that have been equipped with even more security than ever before. Additional armed officers, metal detectors, bag inspections and other new safety procedures are in place.
I am sure we can all agree, even those taxpayers who do not have school-age children, that we are pleased to see our school officials have put safety at the forefront and allocated funding to provide the added precautions, despite the ongoing struggles of tight budgets and stretching district dollars.
As the old adage goes, it really does take a village to raise a child, and in the case of school-age children in today’s society, we all need to watch out for our own.
The school officials are doing their part — and we expect those living and commuting through our neighborhoods to do their part as well to ensure the safety of our children.
According to the state Department of Transportation (PennDOT), last year there were 292 school bus crashes resulting in 371 injuries across the state.
When it comes to our children, one injury resulting from a school bus crash is one too many.
We’d like to remind residents that those yellow buses are not just a nuisance of the morning commute — they are carrying precious cargo.
Now is the time set the alarm a few minutes earlier so that you can allow plenty of time to get where you are going. Expect delays, and exercise your patience. And, most importantly, know the law.
As a refresher, PennDOT has recently released a refresher to the state’s school bus stopping law:
n Motorists must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended.
n Motorists must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped.
n Motorists following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety.
n If physical barriers such as grassy medians, guide rails or concrete median barriers separate oncoming traffic from the bus, motorists in the opposing lanes may proceed without stopping.
n Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.
We encourage drivers to watch out for children on the buses, and for those entering or exiting them. Call 911 if you see other drivers breaking the law. Likewise, we encourage community members to report any unsafe driving practices by school bus or van drivers to the school district or notify the police if warranted.
Students face enough hardships these days when it comes to feeling safe. Giving them peace of mind by paying attention to the rules of the road could help lessen that load.