Petition to the Swedesboro-Woolwich School District Board of Education

Reconsider the 2.2-Mile Walking Zone Mandate for Charles Harker School Students in Grades 3–5

We, the undersigned parents, guardians, and residents of Swedesboro and Woolwich Township, respectfully petition the Swedesboro-Woolwich Board of Education to reconsider its recent decision to classify neighborhoods within a 2.2-mile radius of Charles Harker School as walking zones for students in grades 3 through 5. This policy raises significant concerns regarding safety, feasibility, and fairness—concerns that must be addressed before it is implemented.

1. Safety Concerns for Young Children
Children aged 8 to 11 should not be expected to walk up to 2.2 miles each way, especially given the current infrastructure and road conditions in Woolwich Township. Many routes to Charles Harker School involve:
- Busy intersections with limited crossing guards or traffic signals
- Long stretches without sidewalks or shoulders
- Poor lighting and dangerous weather conditions
- Exposure to potential safety threats, including strangers and stray animals

Safety should never be compromised to save on transportation costs.

2. Impractical for Many Families
This policy disproportionately impacts working parents, households with multiple children, and families without reliable transportation. Expecting a 9-year-old to walk that distance unsupervised is not a viable solution. For many parents, walking their child is not logistically possible due to job schedules, younger children at home, or physical limitations.

3. Physically and Emotionally Inappropriate
The developmental readiness of a third, fourth, or even fifth grader to walk 30–45 minutes to and from school—five days a week—is questionable at best. Students may arrive:
- Exhausted, wet, or cold
- Distracted and unfocused
- Or worse, injured or frightened

This decision disregards the mental and physical well-being of our children.

4. Lack of Transparency and Community Involvement
Many families only recently became aware of this policy, with little to no public dialogue before its adoption. This lack of transparency undermines trust between the community and district leadership. Decisions that impact hundreds of children and their families must be made with transparency, community engagement, and accountability.

Our Requests to the Swedesboro-Woolwich School Board:

We respectfully ask that the Board:

1. Pause the implementation of the 2.2-mile walking zone for Charles Harker School until a thorough review can be completed.
2. Solicit community input through forums, surveys, or town hall meetings.
3. Conduct an updated safety assessment of walking routes in Woolwich Township.
4. Explore reasonable alternatives such as:
      - Adjusted mileage thresholds for younger students
      - Partial transportation reinstatement for high-risk areas
      - Walking school buses with adult supervision or volunteers

Our children’s safety is not negotiable. We urge the Swedesboro-Woolwich Board of Education to prioritize the well-being of the students at Charles Harker School and demonstrate a willingness to work with the families it serves.

Sincerely,

The Concerned Community of Swedesboro and Woolwich Township