News

Friday, August 22, 2008

Santa Barbara School Districts Prepare for Students to be At School, On Time, and Ready to Learn!

Today, there were 670 students at Cleveland Elementary and the Santa Barbara Community Academy, the districts' two year round schools that started on July 16.

On Monday, August 25, 2008, more than 15,000 students are expected headed back to school.

School safety reminders from the California Department of Motor Vehicles driver handbook for 2008:

Within 500 feet of a school while children are outside or crossing the street, the speed limit is 25 mph, unless otherwise posted. Also, if the school ground has no fence and children are outside, never drive faster than 25 mph. Always drive more carefully near schools, playgrounds, parks, and residential areas because children may suddenly dart into the street.

Near schools, look for:

• Bicyclists and pedestrians.
• School safety patrols or school crossing guards and obey their directions. For the crossing guard's safety, allow him or her to safely get to the side of the road before driving ahead.
• Stopped school buses and children crossing the street. Some school buses flash yellow lights when preparing to stop and let children off the bus. The yellow flashing lights warn you to slow down and prepare to stop. When the bus flashes red lights (located at the top front and back of the bus), you must stop from either direction until the children are safely across the street and the lights stop flashing. The law requires you to remain stopped as long as the red lights are flashing (VC §22454). If you fail to stop, you may be fined up to $1000 and your driving privilege could be suspended for one year. If the school bus is on the other side of a divided or multilane (two or more lanes in each direction) highway, you do not need to stop.