Greetings,

Each morning and afternoon, the streets and parking lots surrounding our Middle School and High School are busy with students, parents, and staff arriving and leaving. With so many vehicles and students moving through the same areas, we want to share a few recommendations that we believe will help make student drop-off and pick-up safer for everyone.

Our intent is not to tell parents how they need to drop off or pick up their children. We simply want to bring attention to a few areas of concern and encourage everyone to consider some practices that can help improve student safety.

Preferred Drop-Off and Pick-Up Location

We encourage parents traveling east on 13th Street to use the Middle School parking lot on the east side of the building. By entering through the far east entrance and following the yellow arrows on the accompanying map, vehicles can pull alongside the curb facing south.

The biggest advantage of using this route is that students can enter or exit the vehicle from the passenger side, directly next to the sidewalk. This eliminates the need for students to step into the parking lot where other vehicles may be traveling.

Drop-Off and Pick-Up Along 13th Street

We understand that some parents prefer to drop off or pick up their students along 13th Street. If you choose this option, we encourage you to travel west on 13th Street and pull parallel to the north curb in an available parking space. Please be mindful of spaces reserved for our school nurse, School Resource Officer, and individuals with disabilities.

One concern we have observed is vehicles stopping in the middle of 13th Street to let students out. We ask that parents avoid doing this, as it places students in an active roadway and creates a potential safety concern.

We also ask that parents avoid dropping off or picking up students at the intersections of 13th Street and Northview Drive or 13th Street and Harrison Avenue. Keeping these intersections clear improves visibility for drivers and students crossing the street.

Please Use Extra Caution

We have a number of students who walk to school each day, many of whom cross 13th Street, Garfield Avenue, Harrison Avenue, or Northview Drive. We encourage everyone traveling in these areas to slow down, remain attentive, and watch carefully for students crossing the streets.

We also ask drivers to be especially cautious when pulling away from the curb or exiting a parking area after dropping off or picking up their students. Taking a few extra seconds to check for pedestrians and approaching vehicles can make a difference.

Thank You for Helping Keep Our Students Safe

We recognize that families have different schedules and routines, and we certainly understand that what works best for one family may not work for another. These recommendations are simply intended to help everyone think about how we can make our school surroundings a little safer.

We have included a map outlining our preferred drop-off and pick-up locations and traffic patterns. We hope families will take a moment to review it and consider using these routes when possible.

We appreciate the patience and cooperation of our parents and community members. Student safety is something we all share responsibility for, and even small changes in how we approach drop-off and pick-up can make a difference.

Respectfully,

Joel Bailey

#WeAreDR