City schools working on traffic, transportation issues

LANCASTER — Now into the second week of classes, traffic flow problems with the new Lancaster elementary schools continue, but some parents are noticing improvements.

Superintendent Steve Wigton said the problems are being alleviated.

“The busing issues we experienced at the start of school have subsided. We made some adjustments to our bus routes, added some additional routes, and limited parking in some areas to get our buses in and out of the schools in a timely manner,” Wigton said. “City officials have added signage and crosswalks to improve access for students who walk to school. All buildings have made adjustments to the parent pick up and bus pick up areas to keep both bus and car traffic flowing.”

The first day of school turned out to be a transportation nightmare on Aug. 20, with Lancaster school officials saying it would be better in the coming weeks.

The delays prompted the district to send out an email to parents Aug. 21.

“We understand the frustration and anxiety that a late bus creates and we regret that yesterday some of our buses were extremely late,” Wigton wrote in that email. “Despite our preparations, the redistricting of nearly 2,800 elementary students and new schools in new locations caused some unanticipated delays.”

Jessica Bell-Sharp, who was picking up a kindergarten student Wednesday at Gorsuch West Elementary School, said the first week was a little confusing for everyone.

“But they separated the kindergarten students being picked up from the older kids, and I haven’t had any issues this week,” Bell-Sharp said. “It’s always going to be a little confusing when you first start.”

Wigton said that since then, another change has occurred: Signs have been given to parents.

“For parent pick up, the new buildings have issued signs for parents to place in their windshield with their student’s name,” Wigton said. “A staff member is stationed in advance of the front door and radios ahead to staff members monitoring students in the waiting area so that the student is outside when the parent pulls up to the door.”

Todd Williams, who came to pick up a third-grader Wednesday from Gorsuch West, said it was pretty difficult last week.

“But they gave us these signs to put in our windows that have the student’s name and they come over and use a walkie-talkie and the students come out to your car,” Williams said. “Last week, they just had everyone coming out at one time, and it took forever.”

The district opened three new schools this year, while students were displaced from two others under construction.

“Everyone is adjusting to changes after redistricting from eight smaller attendance areas to five larger attendance areas. Three of these attendance areas are adjusting to the addition of three large schools and two attendance areas are adjusting to busing for all students,” Wigton said. “This means that parents who have been used to being bused are adjusting to not being bused and parents who are used to not being bused are now bused. In all, we have approximately 2,700 elementary students attending different schools than last year. This means that all elementary bus routes had to be created from scratch with the exception of some Sanderson routes.”

As for students who are bused, Wigton said it could take more than an hour for students to be dropped off.

Wigton said the drop-off time depends on the routes, construction and weather, and every year, the district has some routes that don’t finish until around 5 p.m.

Grandparent Pinky Cook, who was at Gorsuch West on Wednesday to pick up a grandchild in kindergarten, said the school had definitely improved since the first week.

“It was pretty bad last week,” Cook said. “They are using walkies-talkies to speed it along. For the safety of the children, I think everyone has to be a little patient. They are getting better.”

cburnett@lancastereaglegazette.com

740-681-4346

Twitter: @CarlBurnettJr