ST. PAUL - Last week, St. Paul Education board chair Sylvie Smyl brought up a topic that has surfaced periodically around the school board's table - traffic issues and congestion near Racette Junior High School.
The Grade 6 to 9 school is one of the only schools in the division that falls directly on a provincial highway, which also happens to be the Town of St. Paul's main street. While the St. Paul Elementary School yard also runs along main street, its school bus drop-offs and pick-ups, and parent drop-off zones, are located a significant distance off main street.
At Racette, school buses drop students off in front of the school, along main street. A school bus drop-off lane was created when the school was modernized about 10 years ago. Most parents drop off and pick up students along the west side of the school, sometimes causing congestion. A letter was sent out to parents in January, reminding them not to park in the yellow zone near the corner of 50th Avenue and 47th Street.
The letter also asked motorists to avoid making u-turns in the area since it creates an added risk to student safety.
"You can make arrangements to pick up your child in the north parking lot where there may be fewer vehicles," reads the letter, signed by Racette Junior High School principal Andrea Austin.
During the Feb. 8 school board meeting, Smyl said traffic concerns had been brought up at a recent parent council meeting. She wondered if a backdoor drop-off would be better in an attempt to move vehicles away from main street.
"I would rather be proactive than reactive," said Smyl, adding, "I do think this is something we have to look at."
Secretary-Treasurer Jean Champagne noted that over the years, there have been discussions about traffic and pedestrian safety in the area. He also noted that the school does do a great job helping students cross the streets.
Vice-chair Darcy Younghans noted that the request to look at traffic issues near the school should be directed to Doug Fedoruk, the division's Director of Facilities & Transportation.
Smyl noted that she brought up the concerns as a starting point in hopes of beginning a discussion around the topic.
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In April of 2021, the topic came up after the junior high school's administration at the time sent out a letter reminding parents to speak with their children about pedestrian safety.
Crosswalks are located near the Grade 6 to 9 school, at 47th Street and 46th Street, crossing main street. Another crosswalk in the area is located at 45th Street, which is also within the same main street school zone, which extends to St. Paul Elementary School.
