Albany schools stress safety during drop-off, pick-up
With the new school year underway, the Albany ISD staff is reminding families of the importance of safety, patience, and consistency during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up – particularly in the circle drive in front of the Nancy Smith Elementary School campus.
“It’s been smooth so far,” said NSES principal Jenci Chambers. “It always takes a little longer in the beginning, but each day gets better. We really appreciate parents helping us follow the rules so we can keep things safe for the kids.”
Chambers emphasized that the circle drive is for loading and unloading only, with no parking allowed, and drivers must stay in their vehicles at all times while in the loop. The inside lane closest to the building is the only approved lane for student drop-off or pick-up. The outside lane is for passing only and should never be used to load or unload children.
Parents using the circle drive should display the color-coded pick-up cards – distributed by grade level at Meet the Teacher night or on the first day of school – on their dashboard or visor to help staff match students to vehicles quickly.
“These cards help us tremendously,” Chambers said. “If there are those who didn’t get one, they can reach out to their child’s teacher.”
Walk-Up Guidelines
For those walking up to retrieve their child, Chambers said that parents must park on Griffin Road and not in the circle drive. Walk-up parents are asked to wait in the grass across the drive or stand behind the yellow painted lines near the building.
“We need the porch area clear,” she said. “We’ll walk the children across the crosswalk to their parents, or send them over to meet their ride if they’re waiting in the designated areas.”
Crossing the circle drive on foot outside of staff-led crossings is discouraged. All students exiting the building are accompanied by a teacher or staff member to ensure safe loading or handoff.
Additional Pick-Up
Reminders
Other key rules for arrival and dismissal include:
Drivers must stay in their vehicles at all times while in the circle drive.
Never pass another car in the loading zone unless instructed by school personnel.
Use the numbered loading stations 1 through 4 for afternoon pick-up; staff will direct vehicles forward as space becomes available.
Cell phone use is prohibited on campus and in school zones, including while waiting in the circle.
Smoking is not allowed anywhere on school property, including inside vehicles.
The north parking lot is reserved for teachers. Visitors should use the designated visitor parking or street parking.
Students riding bicycles must walk their bikes once on campus and park them at the rack near the main entrance.
If parents need to enter the building during arrival or dismissal times, they must park on the street or in the visitor area, not in the drive-thru lanes.
The bus lane is off-limits for parent use at any time during the school day.
Changing Routines
To prevent confusion or miscommunication, Chambers urged parents to notify teachers in writing about any changes to a child’s transportation routine.
“If something changes, let us know in advance,” she said. “We want to make sure every child ends the day in the right place.”
Parents should send a note with their student for day-to-day changes. Last-minute changes should be phoned in to the NSES office at 325-762-3384.
Secondary Campus
Protocols
Student parking at the secondary campus will continue to be limited to certain areas.
Senior students who drive to campus can park on the street in front of the school, except in designated teacher parking. Juniors can park further down in front of the gymnasiums or in the parking lot to the east of the main gym. Sophomores are limited to just using the gym parking lot.
However, students should be aware that there are five designated teacher parking spots at the southeast corner of the gym near the weight room, as well as coaches parking in front of the field house.
No one is allowed to park in the alleyway behind the gyms.
Parents can continue to drop off and pick students up from the band hall parking lot, in the front circle in the mornings, or at the back corner of the main gym.
In the afternoons, parents and others who pick up students are asked to stay out of the circle drive which is reserved for buses only from 2:45 to 4:00 p.m.
Parents are asked not to go past the band hall to drop students off in the cafeteria parking lot.
In the afternoon, students should meet parents or others picking them up in the area before or after the circle drive. Students are encouraged not to cross the street to be picked up due to higher than normal traffic loads at that time.
