Administration: East 9th traffic flow request in interest of student safety

    After the first few days of the new school year, the administration continues to watch traffic flow patterns before and after classes at Chase County Schools.
    Supt. Randy Klooz said feedback from parent surveys touched on congestion and safety issues along East 9th Street before and after school when students are dropped off by parents or others.
    An email and a reminder text before classes started last Thursday went out to parents, encouraging them to enter the school grounds from East 9th Street, rather then from the west.
    It was suggested that students be dropped off at the curb on the south side of the playgrounds, after which drivers should continue west on East 9th as they exit the school area. By doing that, students do not have to cross East 9th Street during busy traffic times.
    While there are crosswalks across East 9th Street south of the school building, the administration is asking that students not be dropped off in the pool/teacher parking lot.
    “This increases the risk of your student’s safety and other students’ safety,” the email read.
    For students driving to school, they have been asked to enter  and exit the student parking lot off Longhorn Street from the east, as well.
    Klooz said administration will continue to monitor the traffic to see how it’s going. They’ll reevaluate after Labor Day, he said.
    Approaching the Imperial Planning Commission is also being considered.
    Klooz said they would like to request making East 9th Street a one-way street from Longhorn Street to Chase Street for short periods before and after school.
    K-6 Principal Becky Odens said she was out monitoring the before-school traffic on Wednesday and just one car came from the west.
    “We’ve had a very good start” with that traffic request, she said.