District 15 superintendent warns to watch out for school children

Letter to the editor

Nearly 150 big yellow school buses will emerge in our community on Wednesday!

These iconic transports carry over 10,500 students daily, delivering them to our community schools so teachers can help them to become productive, successful citizens. Busing kids to school is a vital part of the process of making our future citizen leaders.

These buses will slow traffic before and after school. I ask your patience and cooperation in allowing our drivers to deliver the students safely to school.

Please allow yourself extra commute time when traveling during our transport periods - we don't want you to be late or frustrated.

And always obey the red stop arms on the sides of buses. When traveling on an undivided road (up to four lanes), it is illegal and extremely unsafe to pass a bus when the arm is extended and red lights flashing. (Some of our buses have stop arm cameras that record violators and send them a hefty fine!)

There also will be a number of students walking or riding their bikes to school. Please be on the lookout for these students (who have been taught safety precautions but may forget about them in the excitement of going to school).

Some crosswalks will have crossing guards; most will not. Please take extra precautions when coming to crosswalks.

Working together, we can make sure all vehicular, bike and walking traffic makes it safely to the desired destinations, and our children are protected from any unnecessary danger. Thank you for your part in keeping them safe!

Scott Thompson

Superintendent of Schools Palatine Elementary District 15