The ball is rolling on initiating talks between the city and education boards on safety at and around Barrie schools.
Barrie’s community safety committee approved a motion Wednesday night that school board officials be invited to discuss pedestrian and vehicle safety in these spots.
“I believe this is a really complex issue,” said Coun. Amy Courser. “I think that this is an all-hands-on-deck issue for anyone that has children in school or lives in a school zone. I think they can appreciate the challenges with safety and with bad behaviour that is happening at morning drop-offs and after school pick-ups.
“Bylaw (enforcement), police services and operations (department staff) should be all having the discussion, but I believe the (school boards are) an excellent place to start with this conversation," added the Ward 4 councillor.
Talks would involve officials from both the Simcoe County District School Board and the Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board.
“Since this is a shared concern, opening a dialogue with the school boards would be a useful thing,” said Coun. Clare Riepma.
As an item for discussion at the community safety committee, this motion will next be considered by city council’s general committee, then council itself for final approval.
The motion’s rational is increasing concerns about the safety of children crossing streets to get to a school and that traffic congestion at drop-off and pick-up times at schools continues to be a concern.
Addressing the problem at the city's community safety committee is being seen as a good first step.
Barrie resident, parent and teacher Tannis McCarthy has started a petition to initiate a crossing guard program to keep children safe.
“In light of the hit-and-run that occurred in Halton (on Wednesday) that left an eight-year-old girl dead, I am hoping to call attention to my petition for crossing guards outside of schools in Barrie,” she wrote in an e-mail to BarrieToday.
The petition reads: “Traffic is busy in Barrie. Crossing guards are needed at intersections near schools in the mornings and afternoons. Concern for our children’s safety is paramount. Barrie has been looking at this issue for years, it’s time to act.”
Her petition can be found by clicking here.
