In response to traffic flow challenges brought up at the recent town hall meeting, beginning Monday, Oct. 22, there will be a new process in place at the Branch Elementary gravel parking lot in order to increase student safety.
Parents will notice barricades positioned in this parking lot to prevent the cross-flow of cars and people, and two designated lanes of traffic upon entering the parking lot off of Forbes Ave.
There will only be one designated entry point to the campus which all children will be entering the campus from this parking lot.
As parents are entering the parking lot, the right lane is designated as the through-traffic lane for quick drop off. This lane is also known as the “kiss and go” lane. Parents utilizing the “kiss and go” lane will need to pull as far forward as possible within the Drop Off Area (see map) and only allow their children to exit the vehicle from the passenger side of the car.
Once all school children in the Drop Off Area have safely exited their vehicles, this group of vehicles will be directed to leave the parking lot and the next vehicles in the lane will pull as far forward as possible within the Drop Off Area and the process will be repeated. Please remember if you are utilizing the “kiss and go” lane to have your child ready to exit the vehicle to ensure effective traffic flow.
Parents that choose to park their vehicles will need to be in the left lane upon entering the gravel parking lot and immediately turn left at the first, and only, opening in barricades. (See map.) Please remember if you choose to park, you must also assist your child to the designated crossing point. Children must be escorted in the parking lot to the designated crossing point.
As a reminder, as stated in the Branch Elementary Student Handbook, the campus is open and children will be supervised beginning at 7:30 a.m. Please do not drop students off earlier than 7:30 a.m.
During afternoon pickup, parents are expected to park and use the crosswalk to retrieve their children as they are released from school.
