New Security Gates at PLMS
by Armin Landis
April 04, 2008
Last year a new safety concern arose at the middles school. The teachers' concern was raised for the safety of our middle school students as they cross the west drive. Fifth and sixth grade students frequently cross the west drive to get to playgrounds in both morning and afternoon recess periods. In times of wet weather students are also likely to use the drive for a dry play surface. The danger to students occurs daily when school personnel, utility employees, and even some patrons use the west drive while students are at recess. Teacher supervisors are especially concerned for the safety of their fifth and sixth grade students. Restricting access is the safest solution that meets the needs of our kids and keeps them out of harm’s way.
Restricting access to through traffic also has other benefits. It reduces congestion during outdoor events at the football field with accompanying pedestrian traffic and it also provides another level of security for the back of the school buildings at night time.
To restrict access to the west side drive and parking areas, including the bus barn, two new gates have been installed. One is just north of the middle school and the other is located at the bus barn. The north gates by the middle school will be closed at all times except when buses leave and return to the bus barn from their morning and afternoon routes. During the day, traffic will be re-routed around the east side parking areas to the south gate which will generally remain open for district access. The north gates have been equipped with automated openers so that bus drivers can open and close them with an electronic remote. We are confident that this solution will keep our kids safe while allowing for the access needed to support our schools.
