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Cl’r JJnrtlanb © bacrucr
August 17. 2005
Safety Issue for Incoming Woodlawn Kids
continued
from Eroni
that hits them will be remorseful for
the rest o f their life,” Warren said.
According to the Portland Pub
lic Schools Student Transportation
Department guidelines, busing will
only be provided for elementary
school students who live more than
one mile from Woodlawn school.
Even then, students are expected
to walk up to half a mile from their
home to a school bus stop.
For W oodlawn students, two
proposed bus stops are planned
Martin Luther King on North Albina
at the intersections o f Terry and
Morgan streets. This is 11 blocks
from Martin Luther King Boule
vard and 18 blocks from the school,
located at 7200 N.E. 11* Ave.
When ACORN and the Neigh
borhood Schools Alliance, another
advocacy group presented their
worries to the Portland Public
School board at a July 6 meeting,
the district’s transportation poli
cies thwarted their attempts.
They were told that other busy
areas around the city, such as those
at Northeast 20* Street and Sandy
Boulevard or Southeast Division
and 82nd Streets, currently have stu
dents crossing the intersections
on their way to school.
“It makes me mad,” Warren said.
“That lets us know that they’re not
going far enough to make sure our
kids are safe.”
Nicole Breedlove, chairperson
for the schools alliance in north
Portland, said, "1 think that’sacrazy
justification. If there are other places
that are more dangerous, the dis
trict should be dealing with that -
no, using that as a reason to not put
something here.”
The consequences o f it all far
outw eigh the sim ple solution,
Breedlove said.
The school advocates say a
sch o o l bus stop at the busy
Lombard/MLK intersection and
crossing guards are needed.
“It’s not that difficult when there
are a lre a d y b u ses go in g to
Woodlawn. It seems like a very
simple thing to do to prevent acci
dents,” Breedlove said.
But Bryan Winchester, director
o f school district’s student trans
portation cites a Portland Office of
Transportation report designating
the intersection "a pretty safe area,”
“Lombard and MLK is a busy
intersection, but it’s controlled. It
has crosswalks and signals,” he
said.
W in c h e ste r su g g e ste d th at
those not comfortable crossing at A rally at Northeast Lombard Street and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard calls attention to the two
Lombard could walk a few blocks major highways children will have to cross to get to Woodlawn Elementary School now that
uptoD ekum tocrossM LK . He also Applegate Elementary is closed.
said that work is in progress to
provide in-school education about
walking safety, which would in
clude pamphlets and a 30 to 40
minute presentation. Ultimately,
though, he says it’s a parent’s re
sponsibility to show their children
how to safely cross a street.
“The parents have to be involved
in the issue on how to get their kids
to school,” W inchester said. As far
as the recent rally went, he said,
“I’m glad they were there, glad they
were concerned. I want people in
volved.”
David W ynde, school board co-
chairperson, said, “As a board and
district in general, we take school
safety very seriously. I have two
kids that go to elementary school,
too. I’m very careful with their safety
so 1 understand people’s concern.”
But, he said, “As a parent, I’m
more nervous about a non-con-
trolled intersection. There are mil
lions of those everywhere.”
Wynde noted that because the
Lombard and MLK intersection is
controlled, the board sees it as safe.
“W e’re doing all of that to get
the best jo b done to deal with
safety,” Wynde said. “W e’re not
trying to get away with anything
here. We think the policy is reason
able.”
James Earl
Jones Visits
Local Kids
Renowned actor James Earl Jones visited
the North Portland branch of the Multnomah
County Library on Tuesday to meet with
children who participate in Self Enhancement
Inc., a program that helps inner city youth
realize their full potential.
Jones read the book “The Other Side” by
Jacqueline Woodson to the children and
followed with a discussion.
Known for his acting and voice roles in
movies like “Field o f Dreams,” “Star W ars,”
and “The Lion King,” Jones is the spokes
man for Verizon W ireless, the main sponsor
o f the event, along with the Portland Trail
Blazers. The visit was part o f a literacy initia
tive to promote the power and joy of reading.
Actor James Earl Jones smiles Tuesday
with local children from Self Enhance
ment, Inc. at the North Portland branch
o f the Multnomah County Library.
photo by M ark W ashington /
T he P ortland O bserver
Diversity Works at
The com m unity
n e w spa p er i n /o n n s
o u r changing
eoinm unitv
Publisher Charles Washington
(right) and the s ta ff o f the
Portland Observer thank the
community for their support.