Comments on: MDUSD appears wary of accepting liability for volunteer crossing guards

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 21:29:34 +0000

Here’s a sneak preview of a super slide show featuring volunteer parent crossing guards at Ayers and Meadow Homes elementary schools: http://photos.mercurynews.com/2013/03/08/concord-parents-volunteer-crossing-guards-provide-safe-walk-to-school-for-kids/#1

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 02:44:04 +0000

Tragic accident today when a 14-year-old was struck by a car and critically injured while crossing the street in a crosswalk at Solano Way and Grant Street in Concord: http://www.contracostatimes.com/concord/ci_22567228/concord-solano-way-at-grant-street-closed-by

Crosswalks do not guarantee safety, especially when they are in areas with no stop lights.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:57:28 +0000

Kristi, Thanks for sharing the outcome. It does seem odd, however, that liability was not even mentioned, since that was pretty much the entire focus of the board discussion on Jan. 14.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:56:33 +0000

I received an email from Ayers Office Manager Sarah Strong, requesting that I add this comment on her behalf:

“My name is Sarah Strong. I admit to sending an e-mail to numerous individuals, including Theresa Harrington, offering my suggestion regarding the communication which was rapidly transpiring regarding the crosswalk on Myrtle Drive, in front of the school where I work. As a result of that e-mail I would agree that my statement, ‘Please, please, stop!!’ was unclear. Please allow me to clarify. It was my sincere intent to implore those individuals directly involved in addressing the Ayers crosswalk travesty, to model the spirit of collaboration for our students. Just for the record, during the last two months of the 2011/12 school year, I assisted with the safe crossing of our students and community members using this very crosswalk. I too await the prompt and successful resolution, which will ensure the safety to everyone who will use crosswalks to help them get to school. I am still confident that collaboration will achieve a solution.”

By: Kristi Buchholz

Kristi Buchholz — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 17:40:32 +0000

I can attempt to tell you my understanding of the decision.
Ayers will continue with the pilot program for the month of February.
The pilot program consists of volunteers attending a training program put on by the Concord PD, which I have already done, along with other Ayers parents. The trained volunteers will act as crossing guards on Myrtle Drive, right in front of Ayers.
At the end of February, the program will be evaluated (not sure who exactly will do the evaluation), and if it is deemed successful, will be offered to other schools within Concord. I believe the Superintendent mentioned pairing with other cities within MDUSD as well, to get their Police Departments involved as well.
A traffic study will also be done, although one was done two years ago, at my request (in hopes of getting a 4 way stop put in), but according to the City of Concord, the results did not warrant the need for a 4 way stop.
It was also stated that uniformed auxiliary officers would come by to observe at different times.

So, what it boils down to is: Volunteers will staff the crosswalk for February. If it works out, we will get to continue to do so with the blessing of the City and MDUSD.

I still don’t know who is covering liability, but at least our kids will be safer!

By: g

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:22:38 +0000

I don’t recall that word, much less the solution, slipping out of Lawrence or Rolen at any point, and after putting up such a fight, in my opinion Rolen was verbose in his praise of Kristi and her efforts–without conceding that he had ever been part of the problem or that he was five or six years late with the praise.

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 19:03:33 +0000

Did they mention liability?

Coincidentally, I just received this information about a pilot walking program sponsored by Kaiser in the Monument Corridor:

“Cambridge Elementary School (and this week Meadow Homes) have implemented Walking School Buses in the morning to help get kids to school safely. Led by 15 parent volunteers, the school buses at Cambridge currently help 60 kids.

The program has a few goals: promote walking as a way to increase physical activity for students and their families; reduce traffic congestion near the schools; and open communication between the schools, parents and the community about local concerns like the need for more crosswalks or speeding cars.

The schools are in Kaiser Permanente’s Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Zones.The HEAL Zones are a targeted, three-year effort by Kaiser Permanente to encourage people in low-income communities to eat better and move more as part of daily life.”

There’s no mention of liability.

By: g

Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:59:07 +0000

Theresa; I listened on the radio and watched Brian’s video, and as I recall, the ‘report’ consisted of something like “we and the city and the parents are going to cooperate and pilot a program at Ayers for the next 5 months and then we’ll see if/how it works.” What does the pilot program consist of? Who knows!

By: Theresa Harrington

Theresa Harrington — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:38:17 +0000

WAM: It’s my understanding that some sort of positive resolution to this problem was announced at the meeting. However, it’s unfortunate that the superintendent didn’t prepare any sort of written report about it, so there’s no way to know what the resolution was unless you listen to the audio of the meeting or wait for the minutes. Here’s the audio: http://www.mdusd.org/boe/Pages/boe-sam.aspx

I haven’t had a chance to listen to it yet, since I’ve been on vacation.

By: Wait a Minute

Wait a Minute — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 18:10:09 +0000

This is just another of the hundreds of examples of mis-placed priorities and incompetence of the leadership within the district.

Its only a matter of time until a child or children are killed or seriously hurt crossing these streets.

The MOST IMPORTANT DUTY OF THIS DISTRICT IS PROTECT OUR CHILDREN FROM HARM!!!

Its so emblematic of the dysfuntion to know that Greg Rolen was able to re-direct well over $120,000 to his household through his Gang of Five raise and the AIS Contract for his paramour (now wife) while simulataneously denying district monies to this mission-critical safety issue?