Staff
Partners and volunteers of the “Kiss ’n Ride” program here will be saluted tonight—earning the Rainy River District School Board’s “Recognition of Excellence”—for helping to improve the safety of children as they arrive and depart from school.
The presentation will be handed out at the board’s regular meeting, which is slated to begin at 7 p.m. at the Education Centre (board office).
“Kiss ’n Ride” is billed as a convenient, safe, and efficient procedure for dropping off children at school in the morning and for picking up them up in the afternoon, with the aim to separate vehicular traffic from school bus traffic to further enhance the safe and efficient transportation process.
The project was proposed by the Fort Frances Traffic Safety Committee and implemented with the help of Tom Marinis, MTO road safety program manager, as well as community partners and volunteers.
“This project has demonstrated a positive change to address safety concerns in Fort Frances and has impacted our entire community,” noted a report to the board.
The Fort Frances Traffic Safety Committee consists of the Town of Fort Frances, Rainy River District School Board, Northwest Catholic District School Board, OPP, MTO Road Safety, Safe Communities Rainy River District, public health, seniors, law enforcement, school administration, bus companies, and parent councils.
“[They] worked towards the goal of increasing student safety by reducing traffic congestion around Fort Frances schools,” the report stated.
“The overall mandate of the project collaboration was, and is, to reduce prevent student injury and improve traffic safety through education, public awareness, advocacy, and enforcement.
“The FFTSC came together representing over 20 organizations and specialty fields around the table to engage a community approach to help solve the problem together,” the report added.
Also at tonight’s meeting, the board will:
•hear a presentation on “Turtle Island Voices,” a comprehensive guided reading resource set that can be used to increase student knowledge of First Nations, Métis, and Inuit culture;
•approve the following policies for stakeholder consultation: 2.64 (Digital Citizenship) and 2.30 (Accessibility Standards);
•grant authority to borrow up to a maximum indebtedness at any one time of $3 million on the authorized signing officers of the board to meet current operating costs for 2013-14, pending the receipt of grants and/or funds from local revenue; and
•appeal the “moderate-high” Transportation Effectiveness and Efficiency review rating based on efficiencies mandated by the Ministry of Education.
