PORTA Elementary Temporary Bus Plan (effective 2-12-24)

Dear Students, Staff, and Parents,

In response to the City’s inappropriate and irresponsible changes to traffic patterns around PORTA Elementary, the administration has worked this weekend to develop the following plan for student drop-off and pick-up beginning tomorrow morning, Monday, February 12th. 

MORNING DROP-OFF PROCEDURES:

Car Riders: 

Parents who utilize the drop off line along the school will continue to utilize the same drop-off procedures as they have all year. We anticipate the 7:45-8:00 drop off window to be the least impacted. 

However, once buses arrive closer to 8:00 or 8:05, cars will not be able to access Monroe Street near the school due to the new “No thru traffic when buses are present” signage. Upon bus arrival any remaining cars needing to drop off will need to wait until the buses have moved off of Monroe Street or find a parking spot to park and walk your child to the door. Unfortunately, please know that due to the City’s added no parking signs on parts of Monroe and 11th streets, parking spots may be limited. 

The City communicated to school officials that they intend to issue tickets to anyone violating the regulations implied by the new signage. Please continue to use caution in your traffic patterns around the school. 

If you are in line already when buses arrive, we may need to wave you on, further down Monroe Street where you can either find a parking spot (again, limited) or drive around the block and re-enter Monroe Street once the buses have departed, again utilizing the drop-off line as usual. 

Those parents who park and walk their child to the front doors may still do so. With the added no parking signs, your parking spot may be further from the school than usual. Please use caution in escorting your child along the streets. 

Bus Riders: 

Buses will all drop off students at Central and the Jr-Sr High before dropping off at PORTA Elementary. 

Buses will stage in front of the Jr-Sr High in order to then proceed to the elementary school in one cohesive group once all have arrived. 

Once buses arrive at PORTA Elementary on Monroe Street, car traffic will be diverted (if necessary), and buses will drop off students at the main door, parking parallel to the sidewalk and letting students off one bus at a time near the main door. 

AFTERNOON PICK-UP PROCEDURES:

Car Riders: 

Similar to the morning, parents who utilize the pick-up line along the school will continue to utilize the same pick-up procedures as they have all year. 

However, once buses arrive closer to 3:08, cars will again not be able to access Monroe Street near the school due to the new “No thru traffic when buses are present” signage. Upon bus arrival, in order to adhere to the new signage, any remaining cars needing to pick up will need to wait until the buses have moved off of Monroe Street or find a parking spot to walk over and pick up your child. 

If you are in line already when buses arrive, we may need to wave you on, further down Monroe Street, where you can either find a parking spot (very limited as the City has also decided to install numerous no parking signs around the school) or drive around the block and re-enter Monroe Street once the buses have departed, again utilizing the pick-up line as usual. 

Bus Riders: 

Buses will pick up on Monroe Street. Buses will need to arrive at PORTA Elementary later than normal, to account for car traffic to dissipate. 

Buses will enter as a fleet, eastbound on Monroe, and angle park in a similar formation to what had been used down below on Madison Street. 

Buses will be loaded with students, then depart to Central, followed by the Jr-Sr High. 

As you might imagine, everything will likely be very confusing Monday morning and we strongly encourage everyone to be extra careful and patient. This change is going to be very difficult on many of our staff and parents, but it will likely be hardest on our young students. The inside procedures will be greatly modified without practice and will require students to move around the building in a very inefficient manner that will likely be confusing for our kids. We will also be giving up valuable learning time, especially in the morning as bus riders will be arriving later than usual, but will still need time for breakfast. 

We will continue to modify our plan as issues arise, as well as continue to look for a better solution to finish up the year.

There have been many questions from parents and community members about how our students and families were put into this situation. In an effort to continue to be as transparent as possible, please visit this LINK to a document sharing some background information and steps that have been taken to address concerns this school year. It is a very long document, but gives a good synopsis of the situation. 

Thank you,

Shannon Duling, Superintendent

Megan Howard, Principal