Parents are protesting a June 23 decision to expand the walk zone for students to 1.5 miles to help reduce a $1.25 million budget deficit. The expanded walk zones mean that bus service won’t be offered to students who live within 1.5 miles of Oak Ridge schools.
Note: This story was last updated at 9:20 a.m. July 12.
Parents concerned about student safety are protesting a recent decision by Oak Ridge Schools to expand the student walk zone to 1.5 miles.
In the past two days, they’ve started a petition and Facebook group to oppose the June 23 decision, and they’ve organized a protest, rally, and walks through the expanded walk zones at several schools.
“We’re serious about this,†said Daniel Morgan, who has two sons at Linden Elementary School and a daughter who starts at Robertsville Middle School this fall. “The citizens are concerned about the safety of the children.â€
The expanded walk zones mean that bus service will no longer be available to students who live within 1.5 miles of Oak Ridge schools. The change could affect 1,800 students. The new bus stops have been posted on the Oak Ridge Schools website.
The opposition has ramped up as a new school year looms. Students at Willow Brook Elementary School return to class next week, on July 17, and the first day for most students is Aug. 11.
On Thursday, Oak Ridge parent Laurie Paine started a Facebook group called STOP Oak Ridge Walk Zone. It already has 255 members.
Paine has also organized protests from 7:30-9 a.m. Thursday at Willow Brook and the Oak Ridge Preschool. Her daughter Ashley Paine died when she was run over by a school bus at Oak Ridge Turnpike and Illinois Avenue in November 2007.
Morgan said he learned about the changes to the walk zone through Paine. He started a petition on Change.org on Thursday to stop the walk zone and had already collected 187 signatures as of early Friday afternoon, close to his goal of 200 signatures. It’s a show of support, Morgan said.
“Please stop the Oak Ridge Walk Zone, as it will be putting our children at risk,” the petition said. “Elementary and middle school age children should not have to walk a mile and a half to come to school. There are enough signatures to show that the citizen’s of Oak Ridge are concerned over this decision and the safety of our children. One child was killed (riding a bicycle) from school not too long ago, and we do not want a repeat of this type of accident. Nor do we want our children subject to kidnapping or anything else. The safety of our children should not be sacrificed because the school system has to make a budget cut somewhere.”
The walk zones were expanded in June to help the school system reduce a $1.25 million budget deficit. School officials said the larger walk area for students is allowed under state regulations, and it is expected to save about $500,000.
Morgan wants school officials to look for other cuts. School officials modified their budget—the expanded walk zones were the largest cut—after the Oak Ridge City Council declined to raise the property tax rate to give the school system more money.
“I just don’t think that they should cause children to be at risk, to be unsafe, for them to meet their budget cuts,†Morgan said.
He said his family lives about 1.6-1.7 miles from the schools.
“It’s close to being borderline,” Morgan said.
His 11-year-old daughter, who has a kidney disorder and sometimes has trouble walking without doubling over, will have to hike up busy North Illinois Avenue from RMS to West Outer Drive, then down busy West Outer Drive, Morgan said.
His two sons—ages 8 and 9—will have to walk down Robertsville Road from Linden, then up a big hill on Louisiana and down West Outer.
“For their age, they shouldn’t have to be climbing those hills unsupervised,” Morgan said. “Kids should not have to walk that far.”
But it was not immediately clear what changes, if any, school officials might make. The current fiscal year started July 1.
At their June 23 meeting, Oak Ridge Board of Education Chair Keys Fillauer and Secretary Angi Agle said they had not heard much from parents, if at all, about the changes to school transportation, except for preschool transportation. The school board did save preschool transportation, a program that costs roughly $74,000 per year.
More information will be added as it becomes available.
John Beckley says
John Huotari, The state’s school transportation reimbursement rules state that it’s up to 1.5 miles by the “nearest accessible route”. I’m seeing a lot of people in the Facebook groups saying that it’s as the crow flies here now, based on the address list the school board put out. Have you heard anything on that either way?
johnhuotari says
John,
I do not know the specifics, but I’ll see what I can find out.
Jeff Ryman says
The school web site (accessible by the link above) says “1.5 air mile radius walk zone,” so it appears to be as the crow flies, which obviously means a lot longer actual walk. That is too far, in my opinion.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
The code states under b that the nearest accessible route starting from the residence entrance to the route, unless the schools are stating greenways are routes? http://www.tapt.org/images/TN%20Laws.pdf
John Beckley says
Also, this is just a recommendation in the state’s school transportation code, but I would hope that the school and police dept took the time to look at this:
49-6-2101. Power of boards to provide transportation.
(g) Each LEA is encouraged to conduct an investigation to determine if any special hazard zones are present within all walking routes children commonly utilize going to and returning from schools. For the purposes of this subsection (g), special hazards shall include an absence of sidewalks, a highway with four (4) or more lanes, an intersection where right turn on red is prohibited, one (1) or more sexual offenders as defined in § 40-39-202 or violent sexual offenders as defined in § 40-39-202 reside in the area or any other condition that could affect the safety and well-being of children walking to school. If the LEA determines a special hazard zone is present, it shall submit its findings to the entity responsible for the road or highway. The entity responsible for the road or highway is encouraged to cooperate with the LEA to devise methods to minimize the hazardous conditions.
karen thompson says
Just received a call from the Superintendent that the routes will be revised to a 1.5 mile WALKING distance instead of the radius (“as the crow flies”). He concludes his statement with another budget threat for next year. I am amazed at the lack of foresight and planning for the implementation of an expanded walk zone. The walk zone effects the safety of the children and impacts the whole city. The Superintendent’s office must work cooperatively with the city and police to develop and implement a safety and awareness program BEFORE the walk zone is implemented. The walk zone has been a threat during budget planning for years, why hasn’t anyone developed an appropriate implementation plan? The savings that they thought this would provide is not valid as they did not think it through the implementation and cost/savings. This is not just a budget line item, it impacts the safety of our kids.
John Beckley says
I’m glad to see that they changed this, now at least it matches what other school districts do. I still worry about kids walking streets like Outer where there are no sidewalks and the lawns on both sides aren’t walkable, especially in the dark.
Raymond Charles Kircher says
It seems after the years First Student has been here, wouldn’t they already know? Why doesn’t First Student propose a plan with their cost, yesterday. Where can they get better drivers when the ones they lay off are all hired at other school districts? From what I see from the ED. Dept is an enrollment increase in the years to come, many of those in the “parent responsibility walk zone”?
Trina Baughn says
John,
The schools cut a.m. transportation to the preschool a few years ago. Could you confirm that they reinstated it or if they still only have the afternoon option?
johnhuotari says
Trina,
I don’t have the details on that, but I’ll see what I can find out.
Mike Mahathy says
AM transportation at preschool has not been restored. It was stopped because Anderson County required OR to start school before buses could arrive. Then Principal Phillips made the request to eliminate morning bus pickup.
Trina Baughn says
So the argument this year to keep preschool transportation was for afternoon only and was based on a concern that enrollment would decline. That was my concern when they cut a.m. access but I knew then, as I suspect now, that there was always a waiting list. Those that need the program most still must find their own way.