Schools and police team to keep children safe
September 1, 2010
Wentzville School District
The Wentzville School District and the Wentzville Police Department are working together to improve student safety. The Police Department has been awarded over $13,000 as part of the Safe Routes to School Grant, sponsored by the Missouri Department of Transportation. The Safe Routes to School program was created in 2005 by the Federal Highway Administration, and the purpose of the program is to:
*Enable and encourage children, including those with disabilities in grades K-8, to walk, wheel and bicycle to school;
*Make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age;
*Facilitate the planning, development and implementation of projects and activities that will improve safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption and air pollution in the vicinity of schools.
“These funds will be used for extra patrols and traffic assistance for the Wentzville School District,” said Captain Kevin Pyatt of the Wentzville Police Department. “We will be monitoring traffic on roadways near schools, on school parking lots, and at bus stops to help ensure the safety of students.” Additional officers will be present before and after school for the next two years to help implement the program.
As part of the grant requirement the Police Department and School District will conduct a survey of District parents (those with kindergarten through 8th grade students) regarding travel to and from school.
“We are asking all of our parents with elementary and middle school students to participate in this important survey,” said Dr. Melody Marcantonio, Assistant Superintendent of Administrative Services. “The more parent responses we have, the more accurate our data, and the sooner we can institute this positive program.”
The results of this survey will be forwarded to the National Center for Safe Routes to School. The Wentzville Police Department will then be able to begin the program and provide extra manpower to the fastest growing school district in the State.
From the Wentzville School District
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