Every August brings a little extra excitement to our community.
Students are looking forward to seeing friends, teachers are preparing their classrooms, and parents are getting everyone back into a routine.
With the new school year fast approaching, I’d like to ask everyone to do a simple thing that can make a huge difference, slow down and stay alert.
Once school starts, you’ll notice a lot more activity around our schools.
Children will be walking, riding bikes, crossing streets, and getting on and off buses.
As we know, sometimes our children are not always the most aware of what’s going on around them.
Some will be excited, some will be distracted, and not all of them will make the safest decisions.
That’s why it’s so important for the adults behind the steering wheel to be paying attention.
I want to start off by reminding everyone that the school zone on East Cole Street near Greer Gym is a 20 mph school zone during school hours.
We also have the 20 mph school zone on South Drucilla Avenue at the elementary school.
These speed limits aren’t just numbers on a sign, they’re there because even a small reduction in speed gives drivers more time to react and can make all the difference if a child unexpectedly enters the roadway.
One area I’d especially like to remind everyone about is the crosswalk near Greer Gym.
It’s used frequently by students throughout the school day.
Kansas law requires drivers to yield to pedestrians who are in a crosswalk, and I encourage everyone to approach that area expecting someone to be crossing.
Taking a few extra seconds to stop and let a child cross is a small inconvenience compared to striking a child or receiving a citation for failing to do so.
I’d also like to remind parents and students about electric scooters.
While they’re a fun way to get around, Moundridge City Ordinance 14-405 prohibits electric scooters from being operated on city roadways.
If your child has an electric scooter, please take a few minutes to discuss safe riding with them, as well as where it can and cannot be ridden before school begins.
Finally, I’d ask everyone to put the phone down while driving.
We all know how easy it is to glance at a text or notification, but those few seconds are enough to miss seeing a child entering a crosswalk or stepping off a curb.
There is no message, email, or social media post that’s more important than the safety of yourself and someone else.
The Moundridge Police Department isn’t looking to ruin anyone’s morning commute.
We simply want every child to arrive safely at school and make it home safely each afternoon.
If we all slow down, stay focused, and watch out for one another, we can make this another safe school year for our community.
Thank you for doing your part, and best wishes to all our students, teachers, school staff, and families for a great school year.
Go Wildcats!
CORRECTION: The school zone on East Cole Street near Greer Gym is a 20 mph school zone during school hours, not a 25 mph school zone during school hours. This story has been corrected from the version that appeared in print on Aug. 14.