Changes coming for base student transportation

  • Published
  • By Kelly Painter
  • 319th Force Support Squadron School Liaison Office
GRAND FORKS AIR FORCE BASE, N.D. --  The 2014-2015 school year will bring change to families here. With the closing of Carl Ben Eielson Elementary, all students in grades K-8 will now attend Twining Elementary/Middle School this fall.

In conjunction with the school board's decision to close Eielson, the base Financial Management Board voted to discontinue bussing services on base due to fiscal constraints. Families are encouraged to formulate a transportation plan for getting their children to and from school.

Student safety is of the utmost importance to everyone concerned. Please be safe, vigilant and patient. To help ensure safety in the new school year, families will see new signs posted in front of the school, brightly painted crosswalks, and security forces will monitor motorist, pedestrian and wheeled sports conduct. Please be aware that the first few weeks of school will be busy until everyone gets used to the changes.

A traffic plan has been implemented for the coming school year. To accommodate safety and efficiency, parents will be able to drop off students in the morning, on the east side of Louisiana Street in front of the school. No parking in the morning hours will be allowed along the curb. Parents traveling south on Louisiana will not be able to stop on the road to let their children out except by the crosswalk. Children will need to exit the car on the west side of the street and cross the street in the crosswalk.

To help with traffic congestion here are some other options for getting your kids to school:

· Parent Information Network: As a parent you can provide your contact/address information to the school and they will compile a list of families who live in your neighborhood that would like to carpool. Carpooling will reduce the amount of traffic at the school and there will be less wait time. Families can sign up for the Parent Information Network at the Passport to Safety Day on August 26 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Twining.

· Drive your child: This option will produce more traffic congestion, so planning your route and allowing enough time to get to school is important. Parents will be able to drop their children off at school starting at 8 a.m. unless they are eating breakfast which would mean a 7:30 a.m. drop off.

· Walk: Parents can talk with neighbors and friends and create a "walking school bus." This is a group of kids who walk together each day. Parents can assign an older student to supervise the group or take turns themselves walking kids to school. For more information about how to create a walking school bus in your neighborhood, Safe Kids Coalition can help you get started. Please visit their information booth at the Passport to Safety Day event.

· Ride a Bike: Students may also choose to ride their bikes to school. Grand Forks Public Schools' district policy states that students in 3rd grade and above may ride unsupervised. If students are supervised by an adult, then any grade level may ride their bike to school. The Safe Kids Coalition recommends no bike riding to school before grade 3. Parents should ensure their children have the proper safety gear on if riding a bike to school. Safe Kids Coalition will have bike and multisport helmets available at the Passport to Safety Day event for a reduced cost.