On the Road to Safer School Crossings
- Hi All,
Just wanted to let you know that the Council approved crossing guards at Anderson Hill/Olcott as well as in the center of town. The Guards were approved until the end of the year. They are forming a committee to put on the pressure and find a long term solution. These solutions may include, but are not limited to, additional crossing guards, sidewalks, a better busing process (possibly zone busing or lowering the cost) and a safe road survey that would give solutions to our safety issues.
We need to continue to put pressure on the council and keep these issues at the forefront of the Boroughs agenda. Please don’t let it end here!!
Maggie 
Local resident, Maggie Bowie, recently contacted me about the concerning news of a student who was hit by a car while walking to Bernards High School last week. This young man was hit at a crosswalk, while trying to cross Anderson Hill and Olcott Ave. Link to story: http://bit.ly/sAUSFL
She is rallying other concerned members of the community to join her at Town Council meeting tonight, Monday October 24th at 7pm. They are hoping to raise their voices and encourage council members to put additional crossing guards in place for the safety of our children.
Everyone who is interested in sharing in this important cause is encouraged to attend tonight’s Town Council Meeting.
Below is the letter she recently sent to Pete Miller, School Superintendent.
Dear Mr. Miller,
As I drove my kids to school today I noticed something very telling….
I live on Bernards Ave. in Bernardsville. There are 7 streets that my children would need to cross to arrive at Bedwell including the extremely busy State rd 202.
On any other day there are NO crossing guards until you reach Seney Drive. Yet today, which was “Walk to School Day”, there were crossing guards place at each crossing road between the Library and the school,an additional 4 guards. Still NO guards on the other side of 202.
Clearly this addresses the fact that it is unsafe to walk to school any other day. Which makes me ask the question…. How is it that I am forced to pay $400 per child to ride the bus if there is NO safe route to walk from my home on Bernards Ave.
There are several families that are forced to change their work schedules and drive their kids to school for these reasons;
-The cost of busing is exorbitant and is not in their budget
-There is No safe route to walk to the school
You see the increased traffic in town, in the car rider line and at car rider pick up after school.
I would encourage you to walk from Bernards Ave, Dayton Cresent, Prospect, Ambar the list goes on, and tell me that you truly believe there is a safe route to the schools, Bedwell and BMS.
Concerned Parent,
Maggie Bowie
s casner said,
October 26, 2011 at 7:05 pm
Pay for the bus, save your child,
If your child’s safety is not worth $400 to you why is it worth the extra tax money to me to pay for more crossing guards?
Oh that’s right, even though I pay for part of your child’s education I should help pay for every one of their needs you don’t want to pay for,
I forgot about that, never mind….