Petitioning Mahopac CSD for a parent/guardian car loop at Austin Rd School
Petitioning Mahopac CSD for a parent/guardian car loop at Austin Rd School
The Issue
6/18/2026: Release date on Google
The Superintendent for Mahopac Central School District (MCSD), Mr. Frank Miele, stated:
"The safety of our students and staff is always paramount...every call is made with one priority in mind, keeping everyone safe...we appreciate your support as we make decisions based on safety first."
This petition supports the MCSD Superintendent's "safety first" approach to keeping everyone safe. The issue is that twice every schoolday, small children are pedestrian in close proximity to moving traffic in the lower parking lot of Austin Road Elementary School (AR) and statistics have proven that this is dangerous (STATISTICS section at the end of this petition for anyone who wants to read it).
AR is in its 7th decade serving the Mahopac Community, yet it remains the only school in the MCSD that doesn't have drive-up drop-off of students AND doesn't have drive-up pick-up of students. This petition respectfully requests that the MCSD applies the "safety first" approach stated by it's Superintendent to drop-off/pick-up procedures at AR, by implementing a one-way car loop for parents/guardians to facilitate drive-up drop-off/pick-up of students.
I observed the 5/19/2026 emergency dismissal at Mahopac High School; at 1:00pm, a police car with lights flashing blocked cars from accessing the usual departure route from campus to ensure that no moving vehicles passed pedestrian high school students as they walked to the bus garage. MCSD Superintendent Frank Miele stood close to my car observing this emergency dismissal. In contrast to those high school students, much smaller children continue to be pedestrian in close proximity to moving vehicles in the lower parking lot of AR twice every schoolday. This petition urges MCSD to change this by implementing drive-up protocols at AR.
School Resource Officer Christopher Pisano was almost hit by a vehicle on his 5th morning in the lower parking lot of AR; of note, he was wearing his bright yellow police-issued raincoat at the time of this incident. In my opinion, this incident highlights the dangers that pedestrian small children are exposed to every schoolday in the lower parking lot of AR during busy morning drop-off and busy afternoon pick-up. The safety of SRO Pisano must also be top of mind.
On 12/19/2021, I emailed the Principal of AR, Mr. Gilligan, to inform him of my concerns for the safety of small children pedestrian in the lower parking lot of AR (Part of that email is included at the end of this petition for anyone who wants to read it). I included a proposal for Mr. Gilligan's consideration stating "...most important of all, no walking student is passed by a moving vehicle."
Since 12/19/2021, I have repeatedly reached out to senior MCSD administrators regarding this issue, including to MCSD Superintendent Frank Miele on multiple occasions. In total, I have submitted 4 proposals. A one-way car loop was proposed; achieved by constructing two short blacktopped paths to link the lower parking lot at AR to the back teachers' parking lot. Students would enter the school building through the doors they currently use, without any impact on current schoolbus arrival/departure procedures.
Throughout Winter, parents/grandparents/guardians (many accompanied by infants, toddlers, and preschoolers) stand outside at AR for up to 30 minutes in snowstorms and wintry mixed precipitation, enduring wind chills that create dangerously low temperatures, as they wait for students to be dismissed. In my opinion, these arduous conditions are unsafe for small children, elderly Grandparents, and those who are vulnerable due to medical conditions. I have shared these safety concerns with Mr. Gilligan, but no change has been forthcoming.
Considering the MCSD Superintendent's "safety of our students and staff is always paramount" mindset, a one-way car loop at AR is petitoned for, to ensure the safety of small children currently pedestrian twice every schoolday in close proximity to moving vehicles in the busy lower parking lot of AR. A car loop for parents/guardians to facilitate drop-off/pick-up would also ensure the safety of younger siblings and parents/grandparents/guardians who endure frigid weather conditions throughout Winter while awaiting student dismissal.
Thank you for taking the time to read this petition. It is my hope that the Mahopac Community I have lived in since 2007, will sign this petition requesting the MCSD to implement a one-way car loop for parents/guardians at AR, to ensure that small children from our community are no longer pedestrian in close proximity to moving vehicles at AR. This petition urges the MCSD to be proactive by constructing this car loop to prevent a child, a family, and our Mahopac Community from experiencing a preventable tragedy that would add to the already alarming statistics listed below. Thank you.
On 6/19/2026 I emailed the link to this petition to the MCSD Superintendent Frank Miele to give him another opportunity to put his "safety of our students is always paramount" mindset into action by committing that MCSD will construct a one-way car loop for parents/guardians at AR to stop small children being pedestrian in moving traffic twice every schoolday in the busy lower parking lot.
If necessary, on July 1, 2026 the link to this petition will be emailed to MCSD Superintendent, Mr. V. DiGrandi; hopefully, he will see that the Mahopac Community supports the transition to drive-up protocols at AR to keep small children safe in light of the alarming statistics listed below.
STATISTICS (Optional read):
In the United States, "Each year, approximately 900 pediatric pedestrians younger than 19 years are killed. In addition 51,000 children are injured as pedestrians, and 5,300 of them are hospitalized because of their injuries."(Pediatrics 2009 124 (2): 802-812).
"For the past 30 years, national non-profit, Kids and Car Safety, has made it their mission to save the lives of kids in and around vehicles." Amber Rollins, Director of Kids and Car Safety stated "every week in our country, 110 kids are hit by vehicles in parking lots and driveways." And "Rollins says many of these accidents happen due to drivers not being able to see a child because that child is in the car's 'blind zone.' A 'blind zone' is different from a 'blind spot' as the 'blind zone' refers to areas that cannot be seen by a driver slowly moving their vehicle. For the back of your vehicle, the blind zone can be up to 50 feet. For the front it can be up to 15 feet. Rollins says, the bigger the vehicle, the bigger the blind zone." (All from Halee Powers, ksat.com, February 20, 2024).
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) "supports community- and school-based strategies that minimize a child's exposure to traffic, especially to high-speed, high-volume traffic (Pediatrics 2009 124 (2): 802-812. This policy statement was reaffirmed in August 2013 and again in May 2019). "The child's short height makes it difficult for the driver to see him or her, especially from an elevated vehicle (van, sport utility vehicle or pickup truck)." (Pediatrics 2009 124 (2): 802-812).
"Pedestrians become vulnerable to injury when walking routes force pedestrians into close proximity with vehicles, especially when vehicle speeds are high." (Pediatrics 2023 152 (1): e2023062508).
"Pedestrian injuries are generally more severe than those experienced by motor vehicle occupants." (Pediatrics 2023 152 (1): e2023062508). "Compared with automobile passengers, pedestrian children experience double the risk of injury or fatality." (Pediatrics 2023 152 (1): e2023062506).
"Up to 72% of children injured as pedestrians will have functional limitation 6 months after their injury." (Pediatrics 2023 152 (1): e2023062508).
"Preschool-aged children have a higher pedestrian death rate (typically from nontraffic incidents in driveways or parking lots) than do school-aged children." (Pediatrics 2023 152 (1): e2023062508).
Email excerpt, Dec 2021 (Optional read):
From Elaine Gilhooly to Mr. Gilligan:
"This year is my first experience of the afternoon pick-up line at Mahopac Middle School. As I sit in my car day after day waiting for the 2:37 pm dismissal bell to sound, it occurs to me how much safer and less chaotic it is when parents/guardians remain in their cars at all times and file up in a slow and orderly car line to collect their respective students before moving off. This is all done in a one-way loop, in circular fashion, without encountering cars coming in opposite directions. All students wait in a safe zone on the sidewalk under the supervision of 3 staff members and one police officer. Students never walk past moving vehicles, which is in contrast to the lower parking lot at Austin Road where every schoolday I witness kids darting in and out of moving traffic; reversing vehicles pose the greatest danger to small children (especially so these days when many vehicles are large SUVs, and trucks that are much higher than the children leaving school)."
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The Issue
6/18/2026: Release date on Google
The Superintendent for Mahopac Central School District (MCSD), Mr. Frank Miele, stated:
"The safety of our students and staff is always paramount...every call is made with one priority in mind, keeping everyone safe...we appreciate your support as we make decisions based on safety first."
This petition supports the MCSD Superintendent's "safety first" approach to keeping everyone safe. The issue is that twice every schoolday, small children are pedestrian in close proximity to moving traffic in the lower parking lot of Austin Road Elementary School (AR) and statistics have proven that this is dangerous (STATISTICS section at the end of this petition for anyone who wants to read it).
AR is in its 7th decade serving the Mahopac Community, yet it remains the only school in the MCSD that doesn't have drive-up drop-off of students AND doesn't have drive-up pick-up of students. This petition respectfully requests that the MCSD applies the "safety first" approach stated by it's Superintendent to drop-off/pick-up procedures at AR, by implementing a one-way car loop for parents/guardians to facilitate drive-up drop-off/pick-up of students.
I observed the 5/19/2026 emergency dismissal at Mahopac High School; at 1:00pm, a police car with lights flashing blocked cars from accessing the usual departure route from campus to ensure that no moving vehicles passed pedestrian high school students as they walked to the bus garage. MCSD Superintendent Frank Miele stood close to my car observing this emergency dismissal. In contrast to those high school students, much smaller children continue to be pedestrian in close proximity to moving vehicles in the lower parking lot of AR twice every schoolday. This petition urges MCSD to change this by implementing drive-up protocols at AR.
School Resource Officer Christopher Pisano was almost hit by a vehicle on his 5th morning in the lower parking lot of AR; of note, he was wearing his bright yellow police-issued raincoat at the time of this incident. In my opinion, this incident highlights the dangers that pedestrian small children are exposed to every schoolday in the lower parking lot of AR during busy morning drop-off and busy afternoon pick-up. The safety of SRO Pisano must also be top of mind.
On 12/19/2021, I emailed the Principal of AR, Mr. Gilligan, to inform him of my concerns for the safety of small children pedestrian in the lower parking lot of AR (Part of that email is included at the end of this petition for anyone who wants to read it). I included a proposal for Mr. Gilligan's consideration stating "...most important of all, no walking student is passed by a moving vehicle."
Since 12/19/2021, I have repeatedly reached out to senior MCSD administrators regarding this issue, including to MCSD Superintendent Frank Miele on multiple occasions. In total, I have submitted 4 proposals. A one-way car loop was proposed; achieved by constructing two short blacktopped paths to link the lower parking lot at AR to the back teachers' parking lot. Students would enter the school building through the doors they currently use, without any impact on current schoolbus arrival/departure procedures.
Throughout Winter, parents/grandparents/guardians (many accompanied by infants, toddlers, and preschoolers) stand outside at AR for up to 30 minutes in snowstorms and wintry mixed precipitation, enduring wind chills that create dangerously low temperatures, as they wait for students to be dismissed. In my opinion, these arduous conditions are unsafe for small children, elderly Grandparents, and those who are vulnerable due to medical conditions. I have shared these safety concerns with Mr. Gilligan, but no change has been forthcoming.
Considering the MCSD Superintendent's "safety of our students and staff is always paramount" mindset, a one-way car loop at AR is petitoned for, to ensure the safety of small children currently pedestrian twice every schoolday in close proximity to moving vehicles in the busy lower parking lot of AR. A car loop for parents/guardians to facilitate drop-off/pick-up would also ensure the safety of younger siblings and parents/grandparents/guardians who endure frigid weather conditions throughout Winter while awaiting student dismissal.
Thank you for taking the time to read this petition. It is my hope that the Mahopac Community I have lived in since 2007, will sign this petition requesting the MCSD to implement a one-way car loop for parents/guardians at AR, to ensure that small children from our community are no longer pedestrian in close proximity to moving vehicles at AR. This petition urges the MCSD to be proactive by constructing this car loop to prevent a child, a family, and our Mahopac Community from experiencing a preventable tragedy that would add to the already alarming statistics listed below. Thank you.
On 6/19/2026 I emailed the link to this petition to the MCSD Superintendent Frank Miele to give him another opportunity to put his "safety of our students is always paramount" mindset into action by committing that MCSD will construct a one-way car loop for parents/guardians at AR to stop small children being pedestrian in moving traffic twice every schoolday in the busy lower parking lot.
If necessary, on July 1, 2026 the link to this petition will be emailed to MCSD Superintendent, Mr. V. DiGrandi; hopefully, he will see that the Mahopac Community supports the transition to drive-up protocols at AR to keep small children safe in light of the alarming statistics listed below.
STATISTICS (Optional read):
In the United States, "Each year, approximately 900 pediatric pedestrians younger than 19 years are killed. In addition 51,000 children are injured as pedestrians, and 5,300 of them are hospitalized because of their injuries."(Pediatrics 2009 124 (2): 802-812).
"For the past 30 years, national non-profit, Kids and Car Safety, has made it their mission to save the lives of kids in and around vehicles." Amber Rollins, Director of Kids and Car Safety stated "every week in our country, 110 kids are hit by vehicles in parking lots and driveways." And "Rollins says many of these accidents happen due to drivers not being able to see a child because that child is in the car's 'blind zone.' A 'blind zone' is different from a 'blind spot' as the 'blind zone' refers to areas that cannot be seen by a driver slowly moving their vehicle. For the back of your vehicle, the blind zone can be up to 50 feet. For the front it can be up to 15 feet. Rollins says, the bigger the vehicle, the bigger the blind zone." (All from Halee Powers, ksat.com, February 20, 2024).
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) "supports community- and school-based strategies that minimize a child's exposure to traffic, especially to high-speed, high-volume traffic (Pediatrics 2009 124 (2): 802-812. This policy statement was reaffirmed in August 2013 and again in May 2019). "The child's short height makes it difficult for the driver to see him or her, especially from an elevated vehicle (van, sport utility vehicle or pickup truck)." (Pediatrics 2009 124 (2): 802-812).
"Pedestrians become vulnerable to injury when walking routes force pedestrians into close proximity with vehicles, especially when vehicle speeds are high." (Pediatrics 2023 152 (1): e2023062508).
"Pedestrian injuries are generally more severe than those experienced by motor vehicle occupants." (Pediatrics 2023 152 (1): e2023062508). "Compared with automobile passengers, pedestrian children experience double the risk of injury or fatality." (Pediatrics 2023 152 (1): e2023062506).
"Up to 72% of children injured as pedestrians will have functional limitation 6 months after their injury." (Pediatrics 2023 152 (1): e2023062508).
"Preschool-aged children have a higher pedestrian death rate (typically from nontraffic incidents in driveways or parking lots) than do school-aged children." (Pediatrics 2023 152 (1): e2023062508).
Email excerpt, Dec 2021 (Optional read):
From Elaine Gilhooly to Mr. Gilligan:
"This year is my first experience of the afternoon pick-up line at Mahopac Middle School. As I sit in my car day after day waiting for the 2:37 pm dismissal bell to sound, it occurs to me how much safer and less chaotic it is when parents/guardians remain in their cars at all times and file up in a slow and orderly car line to collect their respective students before moving off. This is all done in a one-way loop, in circular fashion, without encountering cars coming in opposite directions. All students wait in a safe zone on the sidewalk under the supervision of 3 staff members and one police officer. Students never walk past moving vehicles, which is in contrast to the lower parking lot at Austin Road where every schoolday I witness kids darting in and out of moving traffic; reversing vehicles pose the greatest danger to small children (especially so these days when many vehicles are large SUVs, and trucks that are much higher than the children leaving school)."
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Petition created on January 23, 2026