CPS clarifies emergency vehicle parking access at schools

Officials with the Columbia Public School district said parking, drop-off and pickup information is given every year to parents, students and staff for each school building.

However, the parent pickup/drop-off map for Battle High School doesn’t show where emergency vehicles can or cannot park.

Parents told ABC 17 News that they often see school resource officers or additional Columbia Police officers park on sidewalks at schools.

On Friday, a Columbia Police officer struck and killed 4-year-old Gabriella Curry with her patrol vehicle, while driving onto a sidewalk to help with bus dismissal at Battle High.

CPS officials said “emergency vehicles, including police cars, have access to whatever areas they need to have access to as it pertains to the situation or need at hand.”

For example, an ambulance can be staged next to an athletic field for a sporting event, or an officer can park on a sidewalk in a police car to help with dismissal.

CPS officials also said that the area where the officer parked when she struck the girl is designed for emergency vehicle access.

Battle High parents said the drop-off and pickup entrance for parents is always congested with buses, because the same entrance is used.

One parent told ABC 17 News that the buses often obstruct any driver’s view because there are so many lined up in one area.

The parent also said they have often seen a police officer parked on the sidewalk.

ABC 17 News asked a CPS spokesperson if district officials planned on changing emergency vehicle parking policies, and they said no.

A few other school districts in mid-Missouri said they don’t need to change emergency vehicle parking policies at the time because first responders don’t usually park on sidewalks, or already have designated parking spaces.