The Lindbergh Board of Education will review the proposed traffic route for Long Elmentary School during Tuesday’s regular meeting, but nearby residents are still hoping to prevent a part of the plan that routes buses through their subdivision.
Doercrest subdivision resident Frank Ruzicka and neighbors have gathered 150 signatures in a petition that praises the school’s expansion, but asks that a new road designed for bus traffic not be connected to their neighborhood.
"It's not just about what's in our backyard or front yard. It's about safety,” Ruzicka said.
The neighborhood is working to create an alternate proposal, though Ruzicka said it wouldn’t be ready in time for the Board of Education meeting.
Most recent story: Talk Gets Tense over Proposed Long Elementary Bus Routes
Last year the board approved the purchase of 4.6 acres of land next to Long, on the border of Crestwood and Sunset Hills, to expand the parking lot and add field space to the campus. Proposed traffic changes are in an effort to create a better flow for vehicles, and keep pedestrian and vehicle traffic separate, Assistant Superintendent for Finance Charles Triplett previously told Patch.
Under the new plan, the school’s five buses would head south down a new road connected to Doercrest Drive through a gate operated by a district staffer. Buses would ultimately exit on Eddie & Park Road, instead of Sappington Road. Several residents in the Doercrest subdivision and nearby areas have cited concerns for its impact to traffic, safety in the subdivision, and the amount of information they've gotten from the school district on the plan. Ruzicka even submitted a complaint with Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster’s Office to see if additional documentation is available from district officials.
Superintendent Jim Simpson told residents last week he believes the plan is the most effective option for the school--as well as the safest.
Lindbergh’s Board of Education approved $1.35 million in certificates of participation (COPs) on Jan. 31 to fund the purchase and improvements, according to a report from Call Newspapers.
Related articles:
- Long Elementary's New Traffic Plan Irks Neighbors
- $850K Spent to Buy Land Next to Long Elementary
Find our follow-up on tonight's meeting, complete with video: http://patch.com/A-1SHZ
I'm also interested in hearing the anti-bus folks respond to the fact that Southview school's bus traffic and how is it that their buses have no problems turning onto E & P. Isn't their exit onto E & P even closer to the "hill" than Doercrest Dr.? I will be sure to look at the location of their driveway, since I pass it every day. Or is this really as simple as they don't want the busses on their street? I could at least buy that, rather then trying to make this into a safety issue. That one just isn't going to fly since Sappington is a much more traffic heavy street. I want to add one more fact that the board mentioned... I too work in a school and it is the goal of every school to seperate bus traffic w/ car and foot traffic. When those things mix, there is an increase risk of accidents. This is a fact and goal at ALL schools
I'm also interested in your statement tonight about special interest groups? Am I correct that you recommended to the board that they don't act on behalf of them? If I am remembering correctly, which group would that be that they are considering?
I'm also interested in how you collected these signatures? I live within blocks of you and no petition came down my street. Didn't see you at the grocery store? I can't imagine there are 150 concerned citizens eager to search you out from Concord School, Kennerly, Crestwood or Sappington who are informed enough about this particular issue to truly have an opinion. I'm trying to stop shy of assuming that you are part of a group who have a hidden agenda around schools, tax dollars etc. Still haven't heard what special interest group you were referring to in your presentation last night? I believe that the only concern that the board and admin. have is the safety of their students. Again, if it's about you not wishing to have 5 buses go down your street twice per day, then just say it. At least that would make sense. Don't make it into something it's not.
Mr. Rusicka, calling a school's PTO a special interest group is correct. They are interested in finding ways to support the students, staff and community of Long School and the district. Supporting the safety, education and development of the kids who attend that school year after year. I have no doubt that you met w/ like minded people that you know. I have neighbors who claim to have seen a teacher in a local private school ask her parents to sign your petition. If it was so grass roots, why didn't anyone knock on the doors of the general public. That's grass roots. Not searching out the like minded. I too live within blocks of you. Yes this is my real name. The question on the survey was simple... Do you support the current plan. I didn't reply, because I wanted to hear more. So I went to the board meeting. I believe the board and the engineers at face value. I believe that they find this to be the best plan that provides the most safety for the kids. A bus driver sits approx. 8 feet above the road. No line of sight issue. Crossing 1 lane of traffic is much safer than crossing two on Sappington.
I'm glad to hear that you met w/ local leaders. That makes sense to me. I would describe grass roots to be from the community impacted by the issue. Those who live on Weber Hill Road or Dandridge or Antrill are NOT impacted by this decision. The only people impacted live on your street. The fact that Lindbergh provides ALL kids with a ride on a bus... WOW!!! What a luxury and great service they provide. Regardless where you live. Even on your street! Less than a stones throw away.
I was there the morning of the "test run" that the superintendent refers to. It was a Friday morning at 10:00am, an empty bus and it made a right on to Eddie & Park. I would love to see (but can't afford to hire) 5 full size buses lined up Doercrest Drive and see what it looks like to have 3 turn left (and then 2 line up at the light to make a left on Sappington with 1 going straight) then have the other 2 turn right onto Eddie & Park as described. It would really be cool if they did this at 3.20pm rather than 10:00am. As far as the community who is impacted, anyone who pays taxes towards Lindbergh School district should be considered impacted. It doesn't matter if you live in the neighborhood, have kids in Lindbergh schools or if they even attend Long, your tax dollars are paying for this. The luxury and great service being provided is being done with our collective tax dollars. For the record, my 3 children attended private Catholic grade schools and high schools but I have whole heartly supported Lindbergh schools for over 20 years now with my tax dollars. I whole heartly support the Long School expansion plan but oppose the traffic flow.
They are trying to do what's best. It's good that people monitor how schools spend their money and Lindbergh has proven to be a VERY conservative district. When I say luxury, most districts have limits on how far one must live to qualify for transportation. Many of those districts have much higher tax rates than Lindbergh. More than one board member stated that they observed the morning traffic. That's pretty hands on to me. If they saw a concern would they not rethink this decision? What did the police say about the safety? If they continue to prove that this is more safe do you get to a point to trust the experts? I get that you want to maintain a dead end street. But if the experts say this is safe... Engineers, bus company, police... Does that satisfy your concern?