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Safety prep begins ahead school year

Keeping your kids safe during the school year is an endeavor on and away from campus. Earlier this summer, Kewaunee County emergency responders rehearsed safety protocols at all three of its local school districts to be prepared for the unexpected. That training was put in good use last spring when a threatening phone call put Kewaunee School District on a hard lockdown with Algoma and Luxemburg-Casco making their own preparations. Nothing came of the threat, but Kewaunee County Sheriff Matt Joski says what was important was the quick reactions of all of the agencies involved.

As for getting to school, Joski reminds motorists that roads will be busier in the coming months with more school buses and parents driving kids to and from classes. He says bus drivers could call you in if you choose to ignore their stop signs.

Luxemburg-Casco and Kewaunee will begin their school year on September 1st while Algoma will begin one day earlier on August 31st. You can read his thoughts on school safety below.

 

FROM SHERIFF JOSKI

With the new school year starting in a few weeks, I wanted to get the jump on some information which I hope will be helpful. As in the past we will begin to see an increase in the amount of pedestrian traffic as those students living within proximity to the schools will begin their morning and afternoon pilgrimages to and from the centers of learning. For those of us operating motor vehicles during those peak times, we need to be aware of this activity and do all that we can to create a safe walking environment for them. For those of you students on foot eagerly making your way to the halls of learning, please do your part to abide by the rules which govern pedestrians. This means crossing at cross walks and looking both ways before crossing the street. Even though you may have right of way, it mean little in the event of an accident.

       For those out in the rural areas, please be mindful of the school buses and the precious cargo they are carrying. Just as a refresher, State Statute 346.48 “Vehicles to stop for school buses displaying flashing lights” states that any vehicle approaching from either the front or the back of a school bus with its flashing lights activated must stop not less than 20 feet from the bus and shall remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the operator of the bus has extinguished its flashing lights. I am sure that any of us who have traveled with our own children in the vehicle can appreciate the demands upon those who have chosen to transport our children to and from school every day. Let’s not add our driving behavior to the list of behaviors they already need to contend with.

      On somewhat of a similar note, once the students get to school this year, they will be met with some of the same protocols which were in place last year. Please be patient and adhere to these changes as they are not meant to frustrate or challenge you, but rather to facilitate the safe movement during those busy times of the day, as well as to keep our children safe throughout the entire school day. I appreciate the effort and thought that our School officials have put into their decisions to find a balance, and maintain both a focus on physical wellness as well as mental wellness as our communities continue to move forward with both compassion and courage.  We should all be grateful for the never ending vigilance which the school community maintains for the sake of our students.

      From our role here in law enforcement, we continue to train and prepare for any and all emergencies which could occur in our schools. Over the summer our local emergency responders have been engaged in trainings at each of our local districts, and I think we all came away with an appreciation for how well our Law, Fire, and EMS agencies in Kewaunee County train together and respect each other’s role in any and all critical events. Just like our counterparts within the school, we continue to refine and improve our trainings and procedures.

      Good Luck to all of our students this year. I hope each of you appreciate the support and resources this community provides, and know that we are all behind you in your efforts. I know you will make us proud!

     

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