Prospect Point preparing Safe Routes to Schools education plan

Prospect Point preparing Safe Routes to Schools education plan
Prospect Point Principal Chris Gardea reported to school board members on the education plan he is developing to meet the requirements of the Safe Routes to Schools grant.

Walla Walla County received nearly $400,000 through this grant to help fund improvements to Reser Road. One component of the grant is to create an education plan to raise awareness on safety issues and encourage more students to walk or ride their bikes to school.

Gardea has a $16,000 budget via the grant to complete the plan. The education plan features tv and radio public service announcements, posters, web enhancements and a bike rodeo scheduled for Saturday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon.

Gardea will also introduce the Boltage program to the school which helps track the frequency of students walking and riding bikes to school. Safe Travels Alliance Co-Chair Katie Christianson is working with Gardea to establish a walking school bus program. This concept features a parent volunteer escorting children to school on a routine basis. The timeline for the education plan is mid-April to mid-September.