SHENANDOAH - The start of the new school year Monday in the Shenandoah Valley School District will mean changes in traffic patterns and parking that will be strictly enforced.
District Superintendent Stanley G. Rakowsky explained the changes during Wednesday's meeting of the Shenandoah Valley Board of Education using a projected display that mapped out the district campus.
With the addition of the new wing of classrooms and upgrades and maintenance to the rest of the district buildings, the pattern for traffic changes is due to a new road entering the campus from the north. Also, parking for staff, students and visitors will be very specific.
"Basically, there are some significant changes to the school, especially for those who haven't been there for a while," Rakowsky said. "The building itself is mostly completed."
Prior to the meeting, Rakowsky explained that a recent inspection by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry showed one area - the main entrance into the high school lobby - did not meet Labor and Industry regulations and is currently being modified in time for the first day of school Monday.
The school board approved a change order of $8,249 to make the modifications.
Rakowsky provided an explanation on how the changes will affect everyone who works or visits the schools.
"This year we are going to strictly enforce parking on school grounds, and the changes are going to be multiple," Rakowsky said.
Rakowsky displayed a drawing of the campus between Centre Street, Route 54, and West Coal Street, with the entrance roads and parking areas colored-coded for staff (green), student (blue) and reserved (red), which is for handicapp, administration and visitor parking.
"The parking is first-come, first-served for staff and students in their areas," he explained. "The one blue area is the only space that student parking is permitted. That's going to be in the area referred to as the 'old marina.' "
The student lot is between West Coal and West Arlington streets and South Spruce Street and Stadium Road.
"Everyone (staff, administration, students) must have a parking permit," he said. "The permit is not for a car, but for a person, so it can be used in another vehicle. The permits will be color-coded for staff and students."
Any vehicle parked without a permit showing will be towed. Rakowsky said arrangements have been made with Steve's Towing.
"And once the car is towed, it's not between the school district and the owner anymore. It's between the owner of the car and Steve," Rakowsky said.
Rakowsky said most of the signs have been posted to designate no parking, fire lanes and direction of travel.
"Just for the public to realize, Stadium Road is not a borough street, but it is private property of the Shenandoah Valley School District," Rakowsky said. "We are designating that road as no parking, fire lane and tow-away zone. We're also going to enforce the no tobacco policy."
To the east of the new addition, referred to as the "New 34," the street is called Elementary Road, which connects with the Coal Street Extension, a road constructed in the last school year for access from West Coal Street. Rakowsky said the extension is a one-way street going south from Coal Street and is the only access road to the elementary building. Anyone - students, staff, parents and visitors - must use the Coal Street Extension to come to the elementary building. During school hours from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., Elementary Road is one-way going south toward Centre Street. After 4 p.m., Elementary Road will become a two-way street, allowing ingress and egress from the Little League field, but the Coal Street Extension is a one-way street 24/7, is a fire lane/no parking zone and will be enforced by the Shenandoah Borough police Department.
Rakowsky said understanding the traffic patterns and parking areas is important since students who live in the borough will not be bussed to the school. Drivers bringing students who do not walk to the school need to know the patterns and rules to avoid problems and have everything go smoothly, said Rakowsky.