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Park Gate FAQ

Hello parents,

With the announcement of the gate to the park beginning to lock next Monday, we have gotten a few questions.  I wanted to take this opportunity to provide some clarity around the decision and process.  Below you will find some FAQs and responses.  I hope that this helps provide some understanding to the gate closing.

Sincerely,

Mike

Mike Stewart, Principal

Q1:  Why has the decision been made to lock the gate, especially when we have had it open for so long?

A1:  There are several reasons for the gate closure.  The first, over the last couple of school years we have gotten increasing reports of students running back and forth between the park and campus after school hours.  In doing so they are crossing the street and it has been reported that on a number of occasions students have crossed in front of cars driving on the street nearly causing accidents.  We want to help increase the safety of students.  The second, when reviewing our agreement with the city of Avondale regarding the gate, the agreement was made that they would put in a gate to provide access to and from the park for arrival and dismissal periods, and that we would station a crossing guard on the street while the gate was open.  We cannot provide a crossing guard after staff's contracted hours, and we want to honor the agreement that we made with the city.  The third, after school coaches, particularly those using the gym, reported frequent interruptions of their practices from students coming over from the park trying to access the gym.  We want the coaches to be able to focus their attention on the team assigned to their care and guidance, rather than on monitoring those that have already been dismissed from school for the day.

Q2:  Will students who are in after school sports and clubs be able to walk through the park to get home?

A2:  Yes.  We have placed two keys where after school coaches and club leaders will have access to be able to open the gate at the end of their practice to allow students to go through the park, and then immediately lock the gate after them.

Q3:  Can parents of after school sports and clubs still come through the park to pick up their students who have been at practice?

A3:  Yes.  The gate will be locked, but you are welcome to wait in the park.  At the end of the practice, the coach will escort those students who are going through the park or to a parent in the park to the gate, unlock the gate, and then lock the gate again afterwards.

Q4:  Will car traffic increase on school campus after school?

A4:  Potentially.  The gate is still open for dismissal and you may still have your students walk to the park for dismissal.  Actually, where a walker goes after leaving our campus is entirely up to you.  However, we do realize that there may be some who now choose to do car dismissal instead.  That is completely fine.  While it could increase cars on campus, that is easier for us to monitor than students crossing the street to and from campus after school hours when we are not around.

Q5:  Have you considered the impact on the pick-up process from Connect after school program?

A5:  Yes.  We consulted with Connect prior to making the decision.  It was expressed that the vast majority of parent pick-ups are no longer occurring through the park, especially since the Connect dismissal has moved to the front desk.

Q6:  If my student is staying after for tutoring can I still walk through the park to pick them up?

A6:  Yes.  The student's tutor can ask Connect, who has access to a gate key, to be able to unlock the gate to release the student to you.

 






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The Museum School of Avondale Estates · 923 Forrest Blvd · Decatur, GA 30030 · USA