Driving through the dismissal traffic

Maneuvering through the narrow streets of the Five Towns is difficult as vehicles are parked on both sides and in most cases there is two-way traffic. Adding to this problem is an increase of volume at certain times of the day.
When students from the Franklin Early Childhood Center on Henrietta Place in Hewlett are dismissed around 3 p.m., traffic backs up on Serena Road which heads into Henrietta Place. The school houses pre-K, kindergarten and first-graders.
Rabbi Dr. Edward Goldstein has lived on Serena Road for more than six years and said that vehicles routinely block the resident’s driveways, park where signs read “no stopping” and refuse to clear a path. Last month, an ambulance responded to his home during the school’s dismissal time and he said it had difficulty maneuvering around the vehicles.
“I would like to see the parents not park in the ‘no stopping’ zone and learn how not to park in driveways,” said Goldstein, adding that he was brought the problem to the attention of the district, the police and in the past to a previous county legislator.
Hewlett-Woodmere School District officials said that they have been reviewing issues associated with road congestion and student safety at Franklin consistently for decades. Options were studied and subsequently deemed impracticable.

A suggestion to have the school buses in front of the school on Henrietta Place and the parents picking up the students in the back of the school is not a “viable option,” according to Dr. Peter Weber, the district’s assistant superintendent for business.
Though the police department said that school district employees should not be in the street directing traffic, repeated requests for a regular police presence, whether an officer or a crossing guard have not been granted, Weber said.
“The school staff does provide guidance for parents and supervises sidewalk dismissal, most recently increasing the support from our district security staff,” Weber said, adding that a change in transportation limits — which would allow more students to take the bus and possibly reduce, but not eliminate parent traffic — cannot be made without a public referendum. “Everyone is interested in finding a better solution in this congested space.”
Board of Education members recently visited the school during its annual buildings inspection tour and observed dismissal, and are several new proposals that will be discussed during budget development meetings, which the public can attend. Check the district’s website, www.hewlett-woodmere.net.
“The traffic situation at Franklin is one of the items we reviewed during the board’s annual buildings tour,” said Board President Scott McInnes. “It’s something we are continuing to look at and deal with.”

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