Hurrying drivers and walking students.
It's a bad mix.
Warren County School District and Youngsville Elementary Middle School (YEMS) will make a change to the traffic pattern at the school starting next week.
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Times Observer photo by Brian Ferry
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Youngsville Elementary Middle School (YEMS) students board school buses at the end of the day Thursday. School and district officials will change after-school traffic patterns starting Monday. Parents who pick up their students after school will park in the Thatcher Lane parking lot at the western end of the school to alleviate congestion with walkers and vans at the main office entrance of the school.
The change impacts after school pick-up of students. Walkers and van dismissals leave through the front door of the school. That practice will continue.
"Right now, all of the parent pick-ups are happening in front of the school," district transportation manager Mike Kiehl said. That is going to change.
"We are worried about the safety of the children," he said.
"To reduce the congestion in front of the school where all the walkers disperse, the district is moving the parent pick-up to the parking lot off of Thatcher Lane," Kiehl said. "Starting Monday, Oct. 29, parents picking up students should park in the Thatcher Lane parking lot as those students will be directed to that parking lot."
Students will be dismissed for pick-up at 3 p.m. Walkers leave the building at 3:05 p.m.
Thatcher Lane runs from Route 6 and abuts the west end of the school property and its playground.
Morning drop-off will continue to take place at the main office entrance. "If you are dropping your child off at school in the morning, please be sure to go around the parking lot loop and drop your child off at the main office entrance," Principal Eric Mineweaser said in a letter sent home to parents of all students at the school. "Please do not turn left to 'save' yourself time. We have children who are crossing in this area and their safety is our number one priority."
Parking is available in visitor spaces in front of the main entrance and near the gymnasium at the eastern end of the school for those who need to enter the building. Officials ask that the fire lane in front of the building remain clear at all times.