We, the parents of the children residing East of Kennedy Road, petition to rescind transportation ineligibility for 79 students, in Grades 2-8, attending San Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Elementary School beginning September 2013.
Student Transportation of Peel Region (STOPR) has notified the parents of the children, residing East of Kennedy Road, of transportation ineligibility for 79 students, in Grades 2-8, attending San Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Elementary School beginning September 2013, based on a Traffic Safety Council (TSC) Site Inspection Report on March 28, 2013. The TSC has recommended a Crossing Guard will be installed at the intersection of Kennedy Road & Grand Highland Way/Wilderness Trail in September 2013, on a TEMPORARY basis, when bussing is to be removed. The safety of the students is PARAMOUNT. The crossing guard is only providing a DEGREE of safety during the crossing of the intersection and not the ENTIRE journey, to and from the school. Students who are walking have to endure hardship in their journey, taking responsibility to arrive safely and knowing that:
1. Even with a crossing guard present, crossing is hazardous due to HEAVY volume of traffic (source: March 28, 2013 Site Inspection Report, City of Mississauga, Traffic Safety Council) and congestion is frequent at the intersection.
2. It takes approximately 1 hour (30 minutes each way) to walk and ensure safety on their own while the crossing guard is only providing approximately 30 seconds of safety on a TEMPORARY basis.
3. They have to deal with adverse weather conditions. The students’, crossing guard’s and motorists’ visibilities are impaired in winter when there are high snow banks at the intersection.
4. There have been 30 criminal activities (March 25-April 25th) in the last 30 days in a 2km radius of San Lorenzo Ruiz (source: Peel Police Crime Mapping) and they may encounter sexual predators, kidnappers and bullies in their travel.
We, the undersigned, demand the above added STRESS must not be endured by the students and allow each student to fully concentrate on their EDUCATION and not have to worry about their SAFETY by rescinding transportation ineligibility for 79 students, in Grades 2-8, attending San Lorenzo Ruiz Catholic Elementary School beginning September 2013.