Important Safety Letter
From Dr. Manno, Superintendent of Schools
September 20, 2018
Dear Fox Lane Students and Families, and BCSD Community Members,
I am writing to you today to ask for your assistance to ensure the safety of our students, parents, and all visitors to our Fox Lane Campus.
The volume of traffic during Fox Lane High School and Middle School afternoon dismissal is significant and poses a safety concern. Our School Resource Officer, Towne Bus Safety Supervisor, and building and district administrators have directly observed safety concerns during dismissal.
Dismissal occurs at 2:20 p.m. and the buses begin to depart the campus at 2:32 p.m. The buses need to be cleared from the campus by approximately 2:45 p.m. in order for subsequent dismissals and bus runs to be on time. Any delays to the secondary dismissals will impact the elementary dismissal process as well. We need your help to address the volume and flow of traffic on campus.
While we are evaluating a number of potential actions to improve traffic flow and safety, there are some immediate actions that will improve safety for everyone.
To have a positive impact on safety, everyone must adhere to the following:
Be patient and drive slowly on campus and while entering and exiting the campus.
Always be alert for pedestrians on campus.
Always yield to a school bus and never pass a school bus that has its red flashing lights on.
There is no parking in the bus loops at FLMS and FLHS during student arrival and dismissal times. This causes a significant safety hazard and impedes the staging of buses.
We have observed many cars in line with students walking or running through traffic, getting in the car, and the car doing a three-point turn to avoid sitting in traffic. This is extraordinarily dangerous. Do not do this. We will begin to ask our School Resource Office to actively address this.
Students may not walk or run through traffic. Students must be picked up at the designated location for each school.
Drive into, around, and exit the traffic circle in front of the middle school very slowly, cautiously and carefully. We are seeing cars speed up as they leave the circle, only to have to slow down quickly due to upcoming traffic.
When exiting the campus from the North exit, do not make a left turn; not only is it an illegal turn subject to law enforcement, it is a significant safety hazard given the volume of traffic at that time and the limited visibility of oncoming traffic.
Always follow the instructions of any school employee directing traffic. Be patient; they are doing an important and difficult job the best they can.
Parents, please take the time to review this letter with your student drivers. We appreciate your diligent cooperation to ensure our students, staff and everyone who enjoys the Fox Lane campus stays safe and healthy.
Thank you.
Best Regards and In Service,
Dr. Christopher Manno,
Superintendent of Schools
c: The Bedford Police Department
The Westchester County Police Department