Student Safety: Why Are They Turning the Wrong Way?

Because senior management of MUSD and GVUSD was unaware of the requirement to provide written bus safety information for drivers, there is a potential violation of Education Code §39831.S (a) (A, B, C, D, and E) (2).

Because the findings of the study done in 2014 and 2015 regarding Webster Elementary School have not been implemented, congestion problems continue and unsafe conditions persist.

There is a need for a crossing guard on Ruth Avenue at Webster Elementary School to enhance student safety.

GVUSD presented a job announcement searching for a volunteer crossing guard for Webster Elementary School, but this position remains unfilled as of the writing of this report. (see Exhibit C) FINDINGS FOR MADERA UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT:

The MCGJ finds that the traffic conditions are dangerous at Alpha Elementary School and John Adams Elementary.

Many drivers are either uninformed or disregard traffic safety procedures at Alpha Elementary School and John Adams Elementary School causing additional traffic congestion and unsafe conditions for students.

Drivers turning left out of Alpha Elementary School onto Stadium Road create congestion problems and dangerous conditions for pedestrians.

Drivers turning left into Alpha Elementary School from Stadium Road create congestion problems and dangerous conditions for pedestrians. METHODOLOGY: For the purposes of continuity, the 2018-2019 MCGJ reviewed the Madera County Grand Jury Final Report 1718-06 School Transportation Safety and all of the responses received from the school districts and the Motor Carrier Specialist I of the California Highway Patrol. After reviewing the responses, the current MCGJ investigated the following:  MCGJ members visited both John Adams Elementary School and Alpha Elementary School in the MUSD and Webster Elementary School in GVUSD multiple times to witness traffic congestion during student arrival and dismissal times.  At the request of the MCGJ, the superintendents of MUSD and GVUSD observed student arrival and dismissal times at their respective schools.  Subsequent to the superintendents’ observations at their respective schools, the superintendents were interviewed by the MCGJ.  The MCGJ requested the City of Madera Chief of Police personally observe the traffic congestion during the arrival and dismissal times for the students at both Alpha and John Adams Elementary Schools.  Subsequent to his observation, the MCGJ interviewed the City of Madera Chief of Police.  MCGJ interviewed senior school administrators, senior school transportation personnel, senior City of Madera administration, and senior City of Madera law enforcement personnel.  MCGJ reviewed the Webster Elementary School Master Plan.  MCGJ reviewed the newly revised MUSD transportation manual and other internal documents related to school transportation. DISCUSSION Madera Unified School District and GVUSD provided MCGJ the revised transportation documents. These documents included school bus emergency procedures, passenger safety, and walking routes. The same documentation should be provided annually to both students and those who transport students. In response to the 2017-2018 Report Finding 1 (F1), the MCGJ obtained a revised policy and procedures manual. Distribution of this document to impacted individuals cures the potential violation of Education Code §39831.S (a) (A, B, C, D, and E) (2). Many students are transported by private vehicles. The drivers of these private vehicles create unsafe traffic conditions. In some instances, drivers were observed following a consistent and organized process, while other drivers were making erratic and unsafe driving choices. The traffic congestion and unsafe drop-off and pick-up conditions may not improve at Webster Elementary School until the GVUSD is successful in finding funds to implement the Master Plan. This plan, once implemented, will improve traffic flow on Ruth Avenue. In addition, there is a need for a crossing guard on Ruth Avenue. On the Webster Elementary School website, there is a “Student Pick Up & Drop Off.pdf” with a description of how drivers need to drop-off and pick-up students to lessen the traffic congestion and increase safety of both students and drivers (Exhibit B). Until adequate funds are obtained, the GVUSD must try to reduce the traffic congestion and the unsafe conditions by continuing to educate drivers. Webster Elementary School provides printed handouts to students for the drivers to read, and has information available on their website. However, given the ease and wide use of social media, it is surprising that schools have not been taking advantage of platforms such as Aeries, Facebook, Twitter, or even their own website to inform drivers of the proper drop-off and pick-up procedures. The use of social media platforms informs the public through a contemporary method familiar, accessible, and acceptable to most drivers. If schools are to keep pace with the changing nature of methods of communication in today’s world, they should be open to exploring new ideas. Stadium Road in Madera not only connects a football stadium but two high schools, and two elementary schools. Traffic is extremely congested during school start and end times for nine months each year. Traffic is exacerbated when drivers disregard the faded, unofficial "No Left Turn" sign exiting the Alpha Elementary School parking lot. Drivers traveling north on Stadium Road and turning left, across traffic, into Alpha Elementary School parking lot adds danger to the congestion. The congestion on Stadium Road is well known to both the City of Madera and the MUSD. Permanent electronic traffic controls have been considered; however, the controls are quite expensive for the length of time they would be used. These types of electronic traffic controls would be needed only during the school year, twice a day, during arrival and dismissal times, or approximately 30 minutes twice a day. John Adams Elementary School has designed and implemented a designated safe area on the north side of the school, on National Avenue, for buses, drivers, and students walking to school. However, drivers were witnessed double parking and blocking traffic while dropping off or waiting for students at the intersection of National Avenue and Accornero Street. Moreover, drivers were witnessed letting students out of vehicles in the middle of the street, allowing students to weave through cars causing increased danger. Third Street, on the South side of John Adams Elementary School, is quite narrow and becomes extremely congested and dangerous during drop-off and pick-up times. John Adams Elementary School currently has almost three times the number of students, teachers, staff, and employee cars as the school was originally designed to accommodate. Many employees and residents compete for parking on the street. Parked cars, double parked cars, and the large number of drivers dropping off and picking up students, limits the traffic flow to one direction and creates an extremely dangerous situation. Recently, the City of Madera has taken steps to increase safety for students walking to John Adams Elementary School. At the time of this writing, sidewalks, on the south, east, and north side of the school, are being constructed. The intent of this plan includes requesting drivers to drop students off on Williams Avenue instead of Third Street, and placing a staff person in the area to monitor drivers and students. Madera Unified School District staff met with local police officers assigned to Madera High School Campus to try to design a safe and appropriate traffic flow of drivers dropping off and picking up students at each schools in MUSD. That effort was notable, but student safety issues could be vastly improved with complete coordination between the senior staff of MUSD and the senior staff of the City of Madera Police Department. FINDINGS: Finding for both Madera Unified School District and Golden Valley Unified School District: