| | Published October 26th, 2011
| Keeping Orinda's Kids and Streets Safe
| | Laurie Snyder | | |
In response to community concerns raised at the Moraga Way Traffic Safety Community Workshop held in April, city officials met with representatives from the Acalanes and Orinda Union School Districts (AHUSD and OUSD) to discuss congestion on Moraga Way and related safety issues.
Orinda City Manager Janet Keeter and Council Members Dean Orr and Sue Severson spoke with Miramonte High School principal Adam Clark, Chris Learned, AUHSD's Associate Superintendent for Business Services, OUSD board member Julie Rossiter, and Dr. Joe Jaconette, OUSD Superintendent to explore the possibility of adjusting school bell schedules so that school commute traffic times could be staggered.
Unfortunately, representatives from both districts indicated that bell schedule changes are not feasible. Because tighter budgets require teachers to divide their time between multiple school buildings, bell changes would hamper the ability of teachers to move efficiently from one school to the next throughout the workday. Such changes could also negatively impact Miramonte High School's athletic programs.
School officials demonstrated their appreciation of the situation, however, by outlining current and planned improvements. Miramonte, for example, has launched a before-school breakfast program that is reducing congestion by motivating students to arrive early.
Officials also suggested installation of permanent radar and increased police presence along school routes to remind drivers to slow down. Jaconette and Rossiter agreed to encourage parents to carpool more and avoid taking neighborhood shortcuts as part of district traffic safety "do's and don'ts."
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA