New school route in effect for Clarke

Beginning Aug. 23, the first day of school, a new procedure will be in effect: parents and guardians of Clarke middle and high school students will all use the same route for drop-off and pick-up.

This change will affect grades seven through 12 and is meant to improve the safety of students and relieve congestion during drop-off of students in the morning and pick-up in the afternoon.

“My main concern, as always, is ... the health, safety and welfare of students. That’s first and foremost,” said Shane Stephens, Clarke Community High School principal. “Right now, if we have any kind of emergent situation where we need fire trucks, ambulances or police down here, it’s never going to happen.”

He added: “I think this (decision) is going to save parents time, keep kids safe and be far more organized. There will be less traffic on school grounds.”

Administration is asking parents and guardians to begin dropping off students at the far northwest corner of the student parking lot, which is between the practice football field and high school softball field. The entry point will be the road directly south of the practice football field that intersects with Fillmore Street.

This means all middle and high school students – those who get dropped off and those who drive themselves – will walk from the parking lot to the school.

Drivers will be asked to use this new procedure during the student drop-off period, 7 to 8:15 a.m., and pick-up period, 2:45 to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

The new procedure will be as follows:

• The driver will head to the far southwest corner of the parking lot, turn right and head to the drop-off point.

• The student(s) will exit the vehicle and head west on the sidewalk to the designated cross walk.

• After dropping off the student(s), the driver will leave the school grounds by turning right and heading to the parking lot exit that intersects with Shaw Street.

School starts at 8:10 a.m., and all students will enter through either the middle school entrance, No. 3, or the main high school entrance, No. 32.

There will be staff on-site to assist both students and parents at the pick-up point for the first couple of weeks of the change.

“The purpose is to relieve some of the congestion before and after school, in particular in certain areas like the circle drive,” said Jeff Sogard, Clarke Community Middle School principal. “That’s what we’re trying to prevent – so much traffic going in and out of there. Hopefully, we can keep some of (the traffic) over in the student parking lot and away from the main building. We’ve decided we’re going to give this a shot and hopefully it works.”

The issue of drop-off and pick-up traffic is one Stephens has wanted to address since the beginning of the 2015-16 school year.

“But we didn’t come to the finalization of this (procedure) until this past Tuesday (Aug. 9), because when you make decisions like this, it takes time,” Stephens said.

Parents and guardians will only be asked to use this specific route during the times of highest traffic: drop-off and pick-up. From 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., students may be picked up or dropped off at the front door of the middle school or high school.

For instance, if a parent needs to pick up his or her child for an appointment at 9:30 a.m., the parent will be able to quickly do so at the front entrance.

There will also be exceptions to the new procedure. For example, students with either temporary or permanent disabilities may continue to be dropped off at the front door.

Stephens iterated this change is meant to be a positive one to improve safety and efficiency for students, parents and staff alike.

“We really think this will save parents in the morning probably 5 to 10 minutes, and you know in the morning how valuable time is,” Stephens said. “Or, in the afternoon, getting your kid picked up and getting them from school to dance lessons or the dentist. It’s going to be a lot more expedient for everybody.”

Most of all, it increases the safety of students exponentially, he said.

“It increases the ability for emergency vehicles to get to our school. There will be no impediments; they can just drive down here.”

Any questions or concerns about the new procedure may be directed to Stephens at 641-342-6505 or sstephens@clarke.k12.ia.us.