Columbia Public Schools warn drivers to slow down

Columbia Public Schools is asking drivers to watch for buses on the roads and to slow down in school zones, according to Michelle Baumstark, CPS community relations director.

On Tuesday morning, a CPS bus with no students on board was rear-ended on Route K.

Assistant Fire Chief Gale Blomenkamp, of the Boone County Fire Protection District, said drivers need to slow down.

“People just need to be aware that there is more traffic. Expect buses on these two-lane roads because you just never know where their next stop is going to be, so just slow down and pay attention,” Blomenkamp said.

Tabetha Rawlings, the principal of Mill Creek Elementary School, said even those using the crosswalk are often in danger because of how fast people are driving.

“We’ve had a couple of them almost get hit before from parents not just slowing down or not even parents but just traffic not slowing down. We want everyone to come home safely,” Rawlings said.

Second-grade teacher Nate Laffoon said Mill Creek is establishing an organization within their school so that, when each students arrives and leave each day, that student is safe and accounted for.

Laffoon also said it’s not always easy to transition from one speed limit to the next but he is asking drivers to do their part.

“The school zone is super, super important. The students are walking across. We have a lot of traffic and I know it can be a pain to slow down to 20 (mph) but it’s really important for us to be able to have that safe travel through here for students,” Laffoon said.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol said that in 2017, five people were killed and 401 people were injured in traffic crashes involving school buses.

According to the MSHP website, parents should talk to their children about school bus safety as well as bicycle safety if they are riding a bike to school.

The after-school rush in Columbia takes place at different times, depending on the school.

Most Columbia elementary schools dismiss students at 3:20 p.m., though some let students out at 2:40 p.m.

Middle schools dismiss students at 2:35 p.m., while Battle, Hickman and Rock Bridge high schools let them out at 4:05 p.m. Douglass, the district’s alternative high school, dismisses students at 3:45 p.m.

Early numbers show CPS has about 475 more students than it did last year. The district will be working to resolve any issues with class size or transportation that may occur during the first week of the school year.

Baumstark said a t otal enrollment for the school district is currently at 19,060 students but that number can change.