New traffic patterns in effect at McCook Elementary

Orchestrated traffic patterns -- enforced by law enforcement officers -- have been designed to reduce and/or eliminate vehicle congestion and improve student safety at McCook's new elementary school.

Classes start Monday morning at McCook Ele-mentary, and School Super-intendent Dr. Don Marchant, Principal Kathy Latta and McCook Police Chief Ike Brown hope that those dropping off and picking up students at the school will soon learn and abide by the new traffic patterns and drop-off and pick-up areas.

"Hopefully, this will make a positive difference," Brown said. The largest concern about the new pre-K-3 attendance center last spring was traffic congestion and confusion about student drop-off and pick-up areas.

Brown said that when one-way traffic signs arrive -- very soon, he hopes -- the 1500 block of West Circle Drive (on the west side of the school) will be one-way north-bound. At the north end of that block, the left-hand lane will turn west/left, and the right-hand lane will turn east/right.

The north side of Q Street, (on the north side of the school), will be "No Parking." Dr. Marchant said that the Egan Park Baptist Church, across the street north of the school, will allow school staff to use its parking lot during the school day, freeing up some on-street parking for parents to drop-off and/or pick-up their students.

Angle parking on West Circle Drive will be angled for people coming from the south. Angle parking on West Third (the east side of the school) will be angled for people coming from the north. Angle parking on West O (the south side of the school) will be angled for people coming from the east.

Dr. Marchant, Latta and Brown worked all summer to develop plans for the arrival and dismissal of students that will ease traffic flow and make street crossings safer for students.

Crossing guards will be on duty each day at 7:50 a.m. and at dismissal times. Stud-ents crossing a street to exit or enter a vehicle will be required to use cross walks.

Drop-off and pick-up information has been sent to all parents, and includes these regulations:

DROP-OFF

* Students eating breakfast at school may be dropped off at the main entrance on West Third.

* Kindergarten students will use the O Street parking for drop-off and enter the south gate.

* First and second grade students will use West Circle Drive parking for drop-off and use one of three playground gates.

* Third grade students will use the West Third Street parking, enter the main entrance and walk through the commons area to the playground.

* Students who are tardy must enter the main entrance and check in at the office before going to class.

PICK-UP

The school will stagger the times when students are dismissed. "By controlling the times of exit, we can funnel students toward available parking," Chief Brown said. "That will eliminate congestion, bottlenecks and students walking across traffic."

* Kindergartners and students riding busses and approved daycare vans will exit the building at 3:10 p.m., 10 minutes before anyone else. Kindergarten students will exit the west doors of the kindergarten wing and use O Street and West Circle Drive parking.

* All other students will be dismissed at 3:20 p.m.

* First graders will exit the north and south playground doors and use West Circle Drive parking.

* Depending upon which teacher they have, second graders will exit either the Q Street doors and use the West Circle Drive or Q Street parking or the north playground door and the West Circle Drive parking.

* Third graders will exit the main entrance and use the West Third Street parking.

Parents with students in more than one grade are asked to let their children's teacher(s) know which drop-off/pick-up plan they will use.

Chief Brown emphasized, "School bus lanes are for school buses only, at any time." Violators will be ticketed.

Others who will be ticketed -- regardless of the school at which the violation occurs -- are those who stop in the street in the middle of the block to drop-off or pick-up students. "This is not only very unsafe," Brown said, "but foolish and against the law."

Dr. Marchant, Latta and Brown have high hopes for the new traffic plans. Brown said, "Once parents get used to it, it will mean less congestion and better, safer access for the kids."

Brown said that not only McCook police, but also Red Willow County sheriff's officers will create a heavy presence at McCook Elementary the first couple weeks of school.

Dr. Marchant said the new traffic plans are designed to keep students safe. "We are taking this very seriously," he said.