Several parents from Oxford Woods and Oxford Meadows attended the March 23 Oxford Schools Board of Education meeting to voice their viewpoints on the safety issues within the Clear Lake Elementary walk area.
Clear Lake mothers Lisa Baum and Linda Simlar were each given a time to present during ‘prearranged audience participation.? The women spoke about safety concerns such as no preventative barrier between the walking path and Drahner Rd., no crossing guards within the area, speeders within the 25 mph zone and the lack of sidewalks within the Oxford Woods subdivision.
Baum questioned school board members as to why Oxford Meadows was not included in the enforcement of the walk zones. She also added that she has found yet another subdivision, within Oxford Elementary’s district, that should not be receiving busing. In addition, Baum questioned the administration’s amount of planning in regards to this issue.
‘I suggest people walk on the path and feel the breeze of a car speeding by at a high rate of speed,? said Baum. ‘Then I want you to judge – would you want your child walking on that path? Do you feel safe??
Linda Simlar, who echoes many of Baum’s points, asked whether or not budgetary issues caused the change in busing. She also was curious as to what steps had already been taken to investigate these issues, before voicing her own concerns.
‘Can I be assured you will work with us until I am reasonably satisfied?? Simlar asked.
Several board members stated that they understood Baum and Simlar’s concerns, but did not feel that the lines of communication were completely open on the topic.
‘I understand your concern and how you must now walk her or drive her,? said board member Colleen Schultz to Baum, ‘but I guess I’m thankful that the district didn’t have to cut other things.?
She added that she too was affected by the enforcement of the walk zone, and mentioned that the bus turns right around in front of her home because she is just inside the cutoff point for Lakeville.
‘I take offense to some of your statements,? stated board member Doug Myer. ‘I think that you are making some of them out of care for your children or anger, and some of them are inaccurate, but we can talk about that later.?
Board President Patti Smith was also unhappy with a few of Baum’s statements: ‘I understand your concern and I empathize with your situation, but I am quite offended by the accusations you made here that our superintendent and assistant superintendent did not do a thorough job of studying matters prior to this.?
Myer, who lives at the Baldwin Rd. end of Drahner Rd., added later in the meeting that the safety path is a normal one, and that all of the students who live from the curve on Drahner Rd. on down have to actually walk in the roadway. He also stated that schools are not in the business of building safety paths and guardrails.
‘I can definitely feel for your concerns, and I would like to encourage you to keep working so we can all come to the table on the same level with open minds,? he concluded. ‘Communication is the key.?
‘I want you to know that we are willing to work with you and make this as safe as we can for all the kids in this school,? board member Tony Giannola said to Baum. ‘Your concerns are being listened to.?
Baum and Simlar were not the only parents to speak about their concerns. Parent Michelle Hirshuk stated during public forum that she was not unhappy about not having busing, just about the congestion in the Clear Lake parking lot and the snow removal problems this winter. ‘I understand where you’re coming from. I do like the idea of a guardrail though,? she explained.
Oxford Meadows parent Cindy Peck was unhappy with the fact that she could not get a clear answer on whether or not the subdivision would be losing their busing. She wondered exactly why the changes were being made.
‘What was wrong with the busing?? she questioned. ‘You said it’s not a money issue, but then you turned around and said the money’s not there. You keep talking both ways and you can’t do that.?
‘You guys got rid of the buses without even thinking of the consequences,? she added.
One individual stated that reinstating the busing and blaming the school district entirely are not the answers. Instead, Lori Bosetti, a member of the Clear Lake School area and local daycare provider, asked for the concerned parents to bring the issues back into the community.
She agreed that the schools should be responsible for clearing the pathways to the safety path; however, she believes that most parents should be grateful the walk area is only ? of a mile and that busing has been available for all these years. Also, Bosetti feels the lack of sidewalks in Oxford Woods should be taken on by the residents of the community, not by the school district.
‘Being here at the school board is not the answer – filing with Oxford Township and Oakland County with the road commission to solve this problem is the answer,? said Bosetti. ‘Lets take the danger (not having sidewalks) and put it back in the community. Don’t you think this is worth your child’s safety to and from school??
Superintendent Virginia Brennan-Kyro spoke several times throughout the parent comments. After the presentation made by Baum, she listed several steps taken by the district to make the walk along Drahner Rd. a safe one: a letter discussing ways the community can work together for the walkers? safety was sent home by Clear Lake Principal Jim Schwarz in September, a safety patrol program was instituted, the Clear Lake PTO held a safety program and additional supervision was provided at the entrances to the school property.
Since learning of the parents? concerns, Brennan-Kyro stated that the district has been working with the Oxford Twp. substation to increase patrols. She added that some future safety measures include hiring two adult crossing guards and moving the bus parking lot to the rear of the building ‘freeing up a whole parking lot.?
As for the snow removal on the safety path, the superintendent stated there is little the district can do. ‘That is not our path, we do not own that path,? she stated. ‘That is not our job.?
Brennan-Kyro was also displeased with Linda Simlar’s question about how long administrators would work with parents on these concerns. ‘I don’t know if I have the ability to satisfy you, Linda,? she stated.
Brennan-Kyro ended by commenting that she hoped the school district and the parents could work together on these issues. ‘I think part of this is being able to have that communication and that relationship,? she concluded.