Traffic changes at Inman

Renovations require update to traffic flow

Nick Johansen

The Red Oak Express

The first day of school is just around the corner for the Red Oak School District.

This year, however, there will be a few changes to traffic patterns at Inman Primary at the start and end of the school day. Inman Principal Gayle Allensworth said the first big change is the location for students departing buses in the morning.

“Buses will come up Inman Drive to the gate at the playground fence. We’ll have staff there, and the kids will walk through the gate on the playground fence, then walk down the playground sidewalk, across the playground, and through the playground doors instead of the main entrance,” said Allensworth.

Allensworth said three staff will be present at the playground gates, with one staff member stationary to greet the kids and walk them to the gate, while the other two staff will lead the kids down to the playground entrance doors. For parents dropping off their kids at the start of the school day, Allensworth said there will be little change in the traffic routine.

“Drop off and pick-ups will be the same. Buses will be on Inman Drive. Parents or family dropping off kids are encouraged to make a left turn and go west on Inman Drive, as the road in the other direction will be tied up on all the buses dropping off children. Every time a bus is dropping off kids in the morning, there will be a stop sign, so it will get congested really fast if the parents or family aren’t traveling west after dropping off their children,” commented Allensworth.

Additionally, Allensworth encourages parents or family dropping off kids to drop them off in the traffic lane, and avoid parking.

“If they decide to pull in and park and walk their kids in, they’ll have to wait until all the traffic is gone, so we’re suggesting they drop them off in the traffic lane, so we can avoid any congestion,” Allensworth said.

After school, Allensworth said, is where the biggest changes will occur to the traffic flow.

“Our early buses, that go to Washington and the middle school, arrive at 3:10 p.m. We will hold all walkers and pick-ups until those early buses are gone. The buses will then rendezvous and the five buses will line up and pick up students. So at 3:10 p.m., all the walkers and pick-up students will be dismissed as they usually are, and we’ll begin that flow. However, we are not going to begin that until the early buses are gone. We will hold traffic until then.”

Allensworth encourages parents picking up kids to be mindful of the change, if they have other items on the agenda.

“We’re encouraging parents and family that if they have an appointment at 3 p.m., to pick up their child early. We’re not going to let them leave 15 minutes early, as it will be too chaotic and unsafe for the buses to have parking lot traffic and bus traffic. At the end of the day, at 3:30 p.m. the students riding buses will go out the playground doors, back up the playground sidewalk, and out the playground gates, almost all of the walker and pick-up traffic will be gone by that time,” said Allensworth.