Elementary school children at Hanover Hills Elementary School who walk home are facing a serious safety risk due to changes in the dismissal procedure this year. Previously, kids were dismissed at a location far from the dangerous roadway, ensuring they were safely away from the traffic. However, this year, the dismissal location has been moved outside the school gate, perilously close to a busy street with no crosswalk or crossing guard at the nearest intersection.

This change has unfortunately created a situation where young children are required to navigate an unmarked and unsupervised intersection daily. The absence of any safety protocol in place to protect our children from traffic hazards is deeply concerning. It is only a matter of time before this oversight leads to a preventable accident. Our children deserve a safe route home, free from the unnecessary dangers posed by heavy traffic.

Research conducted by the Safe Routes to School National Partnership highlights that providing safe, convenient, and accessible paths for children to walk and bike not only improves safety outcomes but also supports healthy community environments. Schools in similar situations have successfully implemented measures such as reinstating supervised crossings or installing temporary crosswalks, solutions that significantly enhance pedestrian safety.

We believe that immediate action must be taken to rectify this oversight. We urge the Howard County Public School System and Hanover Hills Elementary administration to address this issue by reverting to the original dismissal location. Alternatively, implementing adequate pedestrian safety measures such as crosswalks, signs, and a crossing guard at crucial intersections would immensely help in protecting the students.

Please support this petition to ensure we take swift and necessary actions to safeguard our children. Your signature can be the difference in bringing about a much-needed change for the safety and well-being of our elementary school community.