STERLING — Officials addressed residents’ complaints about traffic — and inconsiderate drivers — during school pickup at Houghton Elementary and Chocksett middle schools.
At the Select Board meeting Wednesday, May 24, Police Chief Sean Gaudette said the issue is an inconvenience, not a safety issue, and despite talks with the principals and DPW chief, they have not come up with a solution.
Even with police parked in clear view, there is still speeding.
But they are working on it. Houghton Principal Tony Cipro told the Select Board he has sent correspondence to families three times, first encouraging them to use Boutelle Road, then acknowledging some improvement based on observation, and a third time after a meeting with Town Administrator Bill Caldwell, Gaudette, the DPW and Chocksett Principal Christopher LaBreck.
On pickup, there are “anywhere from 35 to 55 vehicles entering our parking lot for parent pickup,” Cipro said, adding that some opt not to use buses to make sure their children get to after-school activities on time. In addition, during the pandemic, many parents did not feel that buses offered safety with a lack of distancing, and that amount has not totally recovered.
When students in kindergarten through Grade 4 are dismissed, parents doing pickup are encouraged to go out the driveway to Boutelle Road before the buses leave the lot, Cipro said.
While the school day ends at 3:45 p.m., Cipro said students being picked up by parents are dismissed 5 to 10 minutes earlier. The heaviest days, he said, are Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Gaudette said the state Department of Transportation came in for unannounced studies for a morning dropoff and afternoon pickup period, and the study results will be available in June. He said he hopes the results will offer some suggestions to improve the situation.
Cipro said that after the afternoon observation, the man doing the DOT study told him “you have a great process here.”
Ricci suggested making Boutelle Road one way during pickup and drop-off. Gaudette said that would have to be done with cooperation of the DPW, and that it would be best to try a new traffic pattern with a fresh school year.
Select Board Chair Maureen Cranson, who said she picks up her grandchildren from schools in Lancaster, which are also abutting schools, suggested looking at parents picking up students in the back, but Cipro called that a nonstarter with students crossing across the back traffic lane to go to afterschool sports in the adjacent fields.
Ricci said she asked the DPW for no parking and no idling signs, and was told it was the purview of the police and Select Board.
Cranson said she would talk to the DPW about the sign issue.
While safety is one thing, Cranson said disrespect for neighbors is another concern. Bean Road resident Leeanne Prendiville said she is impacted by drivers blocking her driveway, but would never call police. She said a parent blocked her driveway entrance and told her to use the other entrance.
This is not a problem unique to Houghton-Chocksett, officials said.
“There is not one school in the Wachusett district that is not having an issue,” Cranson said. “No one thought to address this when schools were built.”
In other business
• Charles “Chuck” Goss was introduced as the new facilities manager, a position Sterling shares with West Boylston. His first day is June 5.
• Elizabeth Clemence is resigning as assistant treasurer. She told the Select Board she is returning to the private sector.
