Earlier school start times shouldn't compromise children's safety
- by: Alberta Safe Streets
- recipient: Minister of Transportation Ric McIver
Changes to many elementary school start times in Alberta mean that children are arriving at school before playground zone times begin. Switching to a school zone creates other problems, as neighborhood children use playgrounds during evenings, holidays, weekends and summer. Communities should not have to choose which group of children to keep safe. Zone hours must reflect all of the times that children are in the area. An extra hour of protection in the morning would make all the difference.
A public consultation in 2009 suggested that playground zone times should change to increase safety and provide consistency for motorists, parents and children. According to the Alberta Transportation website, playground zone times were to go into effect at 7:30 a.m., accommodating earlier school starts. Based on the consultation, the previous Minister of Transportation committed to make this change by the beginning of the 2012/13 school year. We respectfully ask that the current Minister of Transportation fulfill the commitment made by his predecessor, or provide an alternative. For instance, since current legislation requires that school and playground zones must be separate, he could solve the problem by allowing municipalities to overlap these areas.
Background Info:
• Schools are starting earlier due to budget issues. An earlier time at one school and a much later start at another allows one bus to complete two routes over the course of the morning. This means that children arrive at school before playground times begin.
• Current playground zone hours are from 8:30 to sunset, but many schools are starting before that time.
• Only schools with students in Grade 5 and above are able to participate in AMA's safety patrol program. This means that although K - 4 schools have the youngest students, they do not have safety patrols.
• According to the information on school websites, Alberta’s major population centres – Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Lethbridge, Medicine Hat and Fort McMurray – are all affected by this issue to varying degrees. In most of these cities, public elementary schools start either before or within 15 minutes of the playground start times.
Although signing this petition will help, a call or e-mail to the stakeholders involved has even more impact. Please be respectful: we want these stakeholders to understand our concern and create a solution.
- The Honourable Ric McIver, Minister of Transportation:
transportation.minister@gov.ab.ca Tel. 780 427-2080
- The Honourable Jeff Johnson, Minister of Education:
Education.Minister@gov.ab.ca Phone: (780) 427-5010
- Your school board trustee
In Calgary: http://www.cbe.ab.ca/trustees/trustees.asp
In Edmonton: http://www.epsb.ca/trustees/
- Your MLA: http://www.assembly.ab.ca/net/index.aspx?p=mla_home
- City representatives, including your alderman
To connect with us, e-mail: absafestreets@gmail.com
Dear Minister Ric McIver;
I am writing to express concern about the inconsistency of playground and school zone times in Alberta. As many schools begin before or within 15 minutes of the current playground start time, vehicles are not required to slow to the 30 km/hour speed which is standard when children are present.
Switching to a school zone creates other problems, as neighborhood children use playgrounds during evenings, holidays, weekends and summer. Communities should not have to choose which group of children to keep safe. Zone hours must reflect all of the times that children are in the area.
In June 2011, the previous Minister of Transportation Luke Ouellette committed to change playground zone times to increase safety and provide consistency for motorists, parents and children. According to the Alberta Transportation website, playground zone times were to go into effect at 7:30 a.m., accommodating earlier school starts.
Alberta’s children have already waited a year for this promise to be kept. We respectfully ask that you fulfill the commitment made by your predecessor, or provide an alternative that can be implemented soon.
Thank you.
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