The Savannah-Chatham County Public School System Police Department is partnering with Savannah-Chatham Metro Police Department to implement a Safe Routes to School initiative that will launch on Thursday, August 6, 2015.
The Safe Routes to School walking school bus will accompany students in the neighborhood as they commute to and from school. The “Walking School Bus” idea simply encourages students who walk to school to use designated routes and travel together. The “walking” also encourages students to stay healthy.
A security aid will walk with students who will be given specific times to meet along the route. Residents living along the routes are encouraged to sit on their porches or stand in their yards and to call Emergency 911 to report suspicious activity.
Police officers from both agencies, including Metro’s Patrol Division, Mounted Patrol and Traffic units will be patrolling streets adjacent to the walking route. Parents are being asked to encourage their children to use the routes at the specific times. Campus Police’s McGruff the Crime Dog, along with Chief Terry Enoch will also be on hand to promote the usage of Safe Routes.
The Safe Routes to school Walking School Bus is a pilot program. Two routes have been designated: Bulloch and 40th Street and Clinch and Starke Avenue. The Bulloch and 40th Street route will begin at approximately 7:10 am. The Clinch and Starke Avenue route will begin at approximately 7:15 am. Both routes will end at Hodge Elementary School at approximately 7:40 am. The walking school bus routes will depart from Hodge back to the neighborhoods at 2:40 pm.
***Click here for walking school bus route maps***
Note: This article was prepared by Savannah-Chatham County Public School System.
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