MAHANOY CITY - Problems with unruly drivers in the Mahanoy Area School District parking lots will be dealt with once police enforcement issues are worked out.
District Superintendent Joie L. Green spoke during Wednesday's school board meeting about the problems with parents dropping off their children at the schools and then making U-turns to leave the lot, which is endangering students.
After the meeting, Green said some parents are not obeying the rules.
"We've tried to set it up that there is one way into the lot and another way out," she said. "There are a lot of parents doing U-turns and going any which way they want to go. So, we decided this past summer that we would organize it that the safety of the students would be better."
Green said part of the plan included placing a crosswalk in the lot, with another to be placed near the middle school in the near future.
"We have signs up that this is a crosswalk but some parents are not following the procedures," Green said.
Green said a letter was sent to the parents of all district students with the information and a request to sign the letter and return it to the district to be placed on file.
"I'm getting calls that 'I'm not signing this,' 'This is stupid,' and 'You have no right to put a crosswalk out here,' " Green said. "Well, we own the property. We're able to put a crosswalk anywhere. So, I'm at the point now that people are upset and I understand that. I'm just as upset, that's why we curb the problem as much as possible."
Green said parents have requested she and teachers be outside directing traffic.
"Unfortunately, I can't get out there every day to direct traffic and it is not the job of teachers, who are supposed to be inside teaching our students," Green said. "I'm just afraid that if it continues, someone is seriously going to get hurt."
While there have been negative comments, Green said signed letters have been returned with encouraging remarks.
"Some are saying that this is an excellent idea and finally something is being done down here to help. They're worried about their children," Green said. "Some say we're wasting our money but to me, the safety of the children is not a waste of money. It's the most important thing."
Green said getting police enforcement to handle some of the situations needs to be worked out since the district campus is mainly in Mahanoy Township, with a section to the east in Mahanoy City borough, so jurisdiction becomes a problem with issuing tickets.
"The district doesn't want to get in the middle between the departments. They need to resolve whatever issues there are," Green said.
