feedback
 

34°F

Overcast

Wind: N at 0.0 mph

Windchill: N/A

As of Mar 28 2024, 2:15 pm

Students »

  • Each day more than 5,500 students learn and thrive in Moorhead Area Public Schools. We are proud of your successes both inside and outside the classroom.
  • Bullying Prevention

SPUDS Landing »

Parents »

New Families »

Community »

  • From seeing how the district spends tax dollars to providing opportunities for lifelong learning, Moorhead Area Public Schools and the community are partners in education. We welcome your interest.
Lifelong Learning
News199253

Residents reminded to watch out and stop for students, safety patrol and school buses

September 2, 2016

As Moorhead students prepare to return to school on Sept. 6, representatives of Moorhead Area Public Schools, Moorhead Police Department, AAA, City of Moorhead and Minnesota Department of Transportation spoke Sept. 1 about road safety around schools, school buses and crossing guards.

Superintendent Lynne Kovash reminded drivers near the district’s elementary schools to watch for and obey the crossing guards or safety patrol.

Dan Bacon, director of transportation, shared reminders about road safety near school buses.

“Be aware of students walking to school and to and from bus stops,” he said.

Drivers must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that is displaying red flashing lights or a stop arm when approaching from the rear and from the opposite direction on undivided roads.

The district averages about one stop-arm violation a day, Bacon said. Cameras on the school buses will record the stop-arm violations and are used in prosecuting violators.

Lieutenant Deric Swenson with the Moorhead Police Department highlighted the department’s focus for enforcement, which includes drivers making complete stops, using appropriate speeds, wearing seatbelts and not texting.

“We don’t want people driving distracted,” Swenson said.

Gene LaDoucer from AAA spoke of the organization’s school zone drive careful campaign and the sponsorship of the safety patrol program. He reminded drivers to “put the phone down, buckle up, and watch your speed” to keep children safe.

Jon Atkins from the City of Moorhead and Jerimiah Moerke with MnDOT provided brief construction updates. Atkins noted efforts to finish traffic signal work and reopen Main Avenue at 8th Street. Moerke reported that northbound lanes on 8th Street/Highway 75 were opening Sept. 1 with southbound lanes to open in about a week. New traffic signals are still being installed, configured and tested.

Moerke said MnDOT will work with the school district to move school buses through on southbound lanes during the first week of school to help with traffic on 20th Street.

Swenson reminded parents to plan ahead and be ready for some delays. He suggested checking routes in advance since roads or sidewalks may be closed, such as sidewalks near Horizon Middle School, and to consider alternate routes.

“We’re so fortunate to live in this community where we have all these people who work together for students,” Kovash said.

Additionally, the Department of Public Safety offers these suggestions:


Motorists

•  In Minnesota, motorists must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that is displaying red flashing lights or a stop arm when approaching from the rear and from the opposite direction on undivided roads.
• Motorists should slow down, pay attention and anticipate school children and buses, especially in neighborhoods and school zones.
• The best way to be aware of your surroundings at all times is to put the distractions away.

Students

•  When getting off a bus, look to be sure no cars are passing on the shoulder.
• Wait for the bus driver to signal that it’s safe to cross.
• When crossing the street to get on the bus or to go home, make eye contact with motorists before proceeding.

 

Categorized under: School