Parents Concerned About Lack of School Zone Around Elementary School
By: Monica Yantosh
Updated: October 25, 2012
The area around Ramirez has no school zone signs, leaving parents who walk their children into school from cars parked around the building concerned.
A parent called the school to complain, and LISD said they're taking the concern very seriously. Since the complaint, LISD Police has increased their presence in the area, especially during times before and after school starts and begins.
"Not only am i concerned parent, but I'm a concerned citizen, for the city of Lubbock, so what could be done about the situation? what do we have to do?," asked Fred Gomez. His son is in Pre-K at Ramirez.
He was told by the district and the city that in order for there to be a school zone put up, there has to be more than 10 students walking alone to and from school on regular days. That's something the city did not find around Ramirez when they did a study in the past year.
Most kids are with their parents.
"I understand they're with their parents, but still regardless of if they're with their parents or without their parents, there should still has to be a 25 MPH sign out there, cause it's a school, these are our kids, this is our future, so I mean if something happens, does it have to take a fatality?" said Gomez.
Another parent, Ben Webb, sees how few kids walk to and from school unaccompanied. "I mean there's not a lot of houses for kids to live in around here, so it's not a school where kids are going to be walking to and from their homes necessarily," said Webb.
Webb understands another reason why school zone speeds are important.
"I think what you typically see, and what slows a lot of people down as a deterrent because of the cost of a ticket is a school zone, if that's not an option based on the city's study, I think speed bumps are a second alternative that could be looked at," said Webb.
Last year, the city did a study around the school to see if a school zone could go in there. The results showed that there were not enough kids walking alone. The city did however decide to put in 4-way stop signs along Glenna Goodacre, which is right by the school. Those were put in to help slow the flow of traffic along a busy road near the school.
"I think any time you've got kids involved,you've got to take a little extra precaution," said Webb.
But Gomez still thinks a school zone is necessary, no matter what the city says.
"If it's one kid or no kid, there still should be a sign out there, I can't emphasize enough how there should be a sign out in front of an elementary school," said Gomez.
A parent called the school to complain, and LISD said they're taking the concern very seriously. Since the complaint, LISD Police has increased their presence in the area, especially during times before and after school starts and begins.
"Not only am i concerned parent, but I'm a concerned citizen, for the city of Lubbock, so what could be done about the situation? what do we have to do?," asked Fred Gomez. His son is in Pre-K at Ramirez.
He was told by the district and the city that in order for there to be a school zone put up, there has to be more than 10 students walking alone to and from school on regular days. That's something the city did not find around Ramirez when they did a study in the past year.
Most kids are with their parents.
"I understand they're with their parents, but still regardless of if they're with their parents or without their parents, there should still has to be a 25 MPH sign out there, cause it's a school, these are our kids, this is our future, so I mean if something happens, does it have to take a fatality?" said Gomez.
Another parent, Ben Webb, sees how few kids walk to and from school unaccompanied. "I mean there's not a lot of houses for kids to live in around here, so it's not a school where kids are going to be walking to and from their homes necessarily," said Webb.
Webb understands another reason why school zone speeds are important.
"I think what you typically see, and what slows a lot of people down as a deterrent because of the cost of a ticket is a school zone, if that's not an option based on the city's study, I think speed bumps are a second alternative that could be looked at," said Webb.
Last year, the city did a study around the school to see if a school zone could go in there. The results showed that there were not enough kids walking alone. The city did however decide to put in 4-way stop signs along Glenna Goodacre, which is right by the school. Those were put in to help slow the flow of traffic along a busy road near the school.
"I think any time you've got kids involved,you've got to take a little extra precaution," said Webb.
But Gomez still thinks a school zone is necessary, no matter what the city says.
"If it's one kid or no kid, there still should be a sign out there, I can't emphasize enough how there should be a sign out in front of an elementary school," said Gomez.
