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Concerned about traffic congestion and safety of children attending Northside Early Childhood Center, the school is changing how students must be picked up.
The school received permission from the Churchill County School Board to install a fence for $7,000 to the south side of the school for a one-way gravel paved road that would exit onto Venturacci Lane.
Northside Principal Gregg Malkovich said the current system of having cars entering a small area is not working. He said cars come into the bus stop areas four times a day to pick up children and must make U-turns to exit.
He added the traffic congestion is delaying parents who have children at other schools needing transportation.
An earth-moving company agreed to move a few trees and sandbox for free and the gravel for the road is also being donated.
The removal of the trees and sandbox near the old bus stop is between Kennametal Inc. and the school. Vehicles would be directed to turn right toward Venturacci Lane and not allow them to turn.
One parent asked for a different exit location because the plan is next to a parking lot students may use.
While the kindergarten policy is to provide one-way transportation for students, there is no bus service for two of the exit times at the school.
Malkovich said there have been times where vehicles broke down in the bus stop area, resulting in more delays. Children, he said, often dart between cars and are nearly being hit.
He also said police are concerned with the amount of traffic on D Street and Venturacci where parents wait to pick up their children.
Malkovich said he plans to meet with Fallon Police Department Capt. Vern Ulrich to implement the plan, which he thinks will take three weeks to finish. The plan in place is recommended by Fallon police.
“We knew there was an issue the first day of school,” Malkovich said, adding staff discussed solutions before coming up with a plan the third week of school.
The Northside principal recently told the school board he felt the proposal would work.
Trustee Ron Evans said he has no problem with the proposal, but he wondered where students are going to be housed during bad weather. Currently, students must walk east across the playground to be picked up.
The school received permission from the Churchill County School Board to install a fence for $7,000 to the south side of the school for a one-way gravel paved road that would exit onto Venturacci Lane.
Northside Principal Gregg Malkovich said the current system of having cars entering a small area is not working. He said cars come into the bus stop areas four times a day to pick up children and must make U-turns to exit.
He added the traffic congestion is delaying parents who have children at other schools needing transportation.
An earth-moving company agreed to move a few trees and sandbox for free and the gravel for the road is also being donated.
The removal of the trees and sandbox near the old bus stop is between Kennametal Inc. and the school. Vehicles would be directed to turn right toward Venturacci Lane and not allow them to turn.
One parent asked for a different exit location because the plan is next to a parking lot students may use.
While the kindergarten policy is to provide one-way transportation for students, there is no bus service for two of the exit times at the school.
Malkovich said there have been times where vehicles broke down in the bus stop area, resulting in more delays. Children, he said, often dart between cars and are nearly being hit.
He also said police are concerned with the amount of traffic on D Street and Venturacci where parents wait to pick up their children.
Malkovich said he plans to meet with Fallon Police Department Capt. Vern Ulrich to implement the plan, which he thinks will take three weeks to finish. The plan in place is recommended by Fallon police.
“We knew there was an issue the first day of school,” Malkovich said, adding staff discussed solutions before coming up with a plan the third week of school.
The Northside principal recently told the school board he felt the proposal would work.
Trustee Ron Evans said he has no problem with the proposal, but he wondered where students are going to be housed during bad weather. Currently, students must walk east across the playground to be picked up.
