Jeffersonville, Clark County officials push school safety effort

Clark County

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Dr. Andrew Melin, superintendent of Greater Clark County Schools, left, and Jeffersonville Mayor Mike Moore pose in front of a Jeffersonville Police Department vehicle with a Greater Clark Community Schools emblem on the side to remind drivers to be careful as school begins and school buses are on the roads again. Submitted photo

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August 7, 2012

Jeffersonville, Clark County officials push school safety effort

GCCS teams up with JPD to keep kids safe

By GARY POPP gary.popp@newandtribune.com The News and Tribune Tue Aug 07, 2012, 09:16 PM EDT

CLARK COUNTY — Greater Clark County Schools is teaming up with the Jeffersonville Police Department to make sure kids stay safe while traveling to and from their schools.

The partnership is part of an awareness effort to make community members remember to stop for school buses picking up and dropping off students, and watch for children walking and riding bikes to class.

“The most important aspect of what we do is make sure kids are safe,” Greater Clark County Schools Superintendent Dr. Andrew Melin said. “And, it starts with the drive to school.”

The partnership is the first time lawmen and educators have joined forces to raise the public’s awareness to protect young scholars during their commutes.

“The partnership we have with our police department and fire department is vital,” Melin said. “We need them to support our initiatives, and we are very proud of the their function in the community and their willingness to participate.”

Melin said getting the public engaged in school transportation safety is only one component of the district’s overall objective of providing safe, productive learning environments.

“We are trying to make sure the community understands how committed we are to our kids — their safety and their academic success. This helps demonstrate the level of commitment we have to the children.”

Jeffersonville Police will be adorning their patrol vehicles with a magnetic Greater Clark County Schools emblem for several weeks to keep child safety on the minds of motorists throughout the city.

“We are always doing what we can to make sure our school children are safe,” Jeffersonville Police Chief Chris Grimm said.

Grimm said the awareness effort comes at a good time since motorists have not seen school buses on roadways for several months over summer break.

He said community members often just need to use common sense when driving near school children, whether they are riding a bus, walking or biking.

“It is all about watching your speed, not texting and using cell phones while driving,” Grimm said. “Slow down and be attentive of the kids, especially around crosswalks.”

Grimm said a common traffic violation that puts kids in danger is when motorists ignore the stop arm of a school bus that is deployed when a bus is loading and dropping off children.

Those who pass a school bus with its stop arms extended can face a $151 fine.

Grimm said violators who speed in school zones can face the same fine.

District officials said 7,200 to 8,000 school children ride more than 110 school buses each morning and afternoon.