It was much smoother sailing for motorists dropping off and picking up children from Senatobia Elementary when classes resumed Tuesday, Sept. 2 following an extended Labor Day weekend.
That’s when Senatobia School District unveiled its newly constructed and configured car rider lines to relieve vehicle congestion from Marvin Street which previously produced a traffic nightmare almost every afternoon. The blockage caused a public safety issue since Marvin Street was partially obstructed by parked vehicles concerning city leaders if a fire truck or ambulance needed to maneuver through the area during an emergency.
An unfamiliar sight occurred at 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 2 and Wednesday, Sept. 3 when very few vehicles were spotted on Marvin Street waiting for students to be released from Senatobia Elementary School.
Work began this summer to produce four car rider lines onto campus that run west from Marvin Street and wrap around the elementary school building. The inside lane is for kindergarten students while the second from the inside is reserved for first grade children. The remaining two outer lanes are for dropping off and picking up students in second and third and fourth and fifth grades.
“We’re very pleased with how well the new car rider entrance process went at Senatobia Elementary School,” said Principal Dr. Archie Mitchell. “Our parents, students and staff all did a fantastic job adapting to the changes. While there were a few minor hiccups, as expected with any new procedure, everything ran smoothly overall. We saw great cooperation, patience and a commitment to safety from everyone involved. I want to sincerely thank our families for following the new directions and helping us create a safer and more efficient system for our students. It was truly a team effort, and we’re excited about continuing to improve the experience moving forward.”
Senatobia School Superintendent Chris Fleming said public safety was the driving force behind the new addition to the elementary school campus.
“The completion of the new car rider line at Senatobia Elementary School is another example of how our community’s investment through the recent bond election is paying off,” Fleming explained. “Safety is our number one priority, and this project gives us another layer of protection for our teachers, staff, students and families. This is a win for our entire community and a direct result of the support we received from our parents and stakeholders.”
