by Jim Boyle
ECM Publishers
The start of the 2016-17 school year on Tuesday comes with special instructions, including having some students on an A- and B-day schedule that hearkens students and families back to kindergarten days.
There’s also a flow chart on traffic movement for before and after school.
An Aug. 10 rain storm damaged Elk River High School, which is being expanded and remodeled, and the A-wing is not expected to be cleared for students until Monday, Sept. 19.
To get 1,700 students in the B- and C-wings for classes while construction is going on, a schedule of A days and B days has been developed.
After several meetings with school staff, District 728 leadership, representatives of the Elk River Police Department, food service and members of the city of Elk River, the alternate A-B schedule was determined to be the best option.
“This option keeps safety and learning as our top priorities, and it also allows for a variety of instructional delivery methods to continue for our students,” Elk River High School Principal Terry Bizal said.
The option is a combination of face-to-face learning and flexible learning days for the first nine days of school, Bizal stated in a message to parents and students.
Students in grades nine and 12 will attend school on A days, with their flexible learning days occurring on B days at home. Students in grades 10 and 11 will attend school on B days, with their flexible learning days on A days at home. More information is available at http://www.isd728.org/ElkRiverHigh.
Transportation, parking plan laid out
The district worked with the city of Elk River and the Elk River Police Department to develop a transportation and parking plan for students, parents, staff and bus drivers for the first two weeks of school this fall.
Here it is below.
Morning drop-off
Students driven to school in the morning will be dropped off by Door I, which is on the south side of Elk River High School. There will be a designated drop-off lane on School Street running about 900 feet from Jackson Avenue Northwest to the western edge of the high school. This will be in the westbound lane nearest to the high school.
•Drivers from the south can access the drop-off lane by turning left from Jackson onto School Street westbound lane
•Drivers from the north can access the drop-off lane with a right turn onto School Street from Jackson Avenue.
•Drivers from the east, heading west, will enter into the drop-off lane after passing through the Jackson Avenue intersection. This will be marked.
•Eastbound drivers (coming from the west) will not be able to access the drop-off area. Instead, enter the high school parking lot at the stop light (Lions Park Drive) and drop students off in the student parking lot. Kids will then walk from the parking lot over to Door I via a marked path. Staff will be on hand to assist students.
Morning drivers
Students who drive in the morning must park in the west lot (between ERHS and VandenBerge Middle School) and must enter the lot at Lions Drive traffic signal. You will then walk from your car to Door I via the marked path. Students cannot park in the north lot. You will be asked to move your car immediately. This is the bus area only.
Morning bus riders
Those transported by Vision Transportation buses in the morning will be dropped off at Door H.
Note: Parents or students attempting to drop off at Door H in the morning will be asked to immediately exit the north parking lot and use the drop-off lane. Elk River Police and ERHS staff will be on hand to monitor this situation.
After-school pick-up
All students who were dropped off via the drop lane by Door I will be picked up at a new pick-up point, the Crossing Church parking lot, which is south of the high school (across the street) and accessible via Jackson Avenue Northwest.
Note: You will not use the morning drop-off lane for after school. The lane will be shut down and closed to traffic.
Students will be guided, via staff and crossing guards, to the Crossing Church in groups after school. Students will then wait in a designated area near the church’s parking lot as cars loop through for after-school pick up.
Afternoon drivers
Those who drove to school in the morning will be able to leave via all exits of the parking lot. The old drop-off lane in front of the school is, of course, closed off. Students will exit Door I and walk to their cars via the same path they entered the school.
After-school bus riders
Those transported by Vision Transportation buses in the afternoon will board buses at Door H immediately after school. No parent pick-ups will be allowed at Door H. Staff and ERPD will be on hand to monitor this situation.
Pick-up or drop-off during the school day
All pick-ups and drop-offs during school hours can be done at Door H. Check in at the Main Office.