Traffic at entrance increases as school implements new policies
November 3, 2017
West Essex has implemented a new morning drop off policy for the 2017-2018 school year. In an email blast sent out on Aug. 23, Principal Mr. Diliberto explained the new procedure.
Cars are getting backed up at the school with new policies that have been put in place, but they are making the process safer.
“To ensure the safety of all students and staff, and to maintain steady traffic flow, a new traffic pattern has been established at the high school for student drop off in the morning. The drop off circle at the front entrance will be closed until 7:42 a.m. This drop off should now only be used for dropping off late students. Additionally, only buses will be permitted into the bus drop off by the rear entrance. Cars dropping off students will be diverted to the through-traffic lane. The faculty parking lanes will also be closed to through-traffic.”
Though the new procedure makes the chaotic morning at West Essex safer, many students are complaining for various reasons that they prefer the morning drop off procedure from past years.
“I have to leave my house earlier because it takes so much longer,” junior Julia Reif said.
Other students say they miss the convenience of being dropped off at the front of the school.
Some students who find the new procedure inconvenient, are having their parents drop them off outside of the appropriate location. Students report parents dropping off their children in the senior parking lot and then cutting through the lot to exit the school district, skipping the line of traffic. This is giving seniors extra stress in the morning, adding unexpected traffic and blocking spots.
“There’s more traffic which makes it more difficult to get to your spot and there’s a greater chance of getting into an accident,” senior Allison Ribardo said.
As soon as the administrators became aware of parents dropping off students in wrong locations, actions were taken to restore adherence to the traffic procedure. According to Assistant Principal Mr. Macioci, staff members including Mr. Davis have been outside in the morning to monitor the traffic flow. Mr. Macioci said that the number of parents breaking the rules has decreased and the traffic pattern is running smoothly.
Though the procedure has been criticized by many students, some see the benefits of a more organized system.
“The new drop off system allows for less traffic when arriving at school,” sophomore Andie Steinberg said. “Driving to school is a lot less hectic and everything is in order.”
