Student safety program considered

STAFFORD — The Stafford County School Board and the county’s board of supervisors will decide next month whether or not to approve a program designed to help improve the safety of elementary and middle school students who walk or bike to school, according to school Chief Facilities Officer Scott Horan.

Horan presented the school’s Safe Routes to School program to the school board at Tuesday night’s board meeting. The program will look to improve walking and biking areas within a one-mile radius of selected elementary and middle schools. The school’s Facilities Planning, Design and Construction Department is currently reviewing all 25 elementary and middle schools to determine which schools best fit the need for the program.

Members of the Stafford community already have added their input on the program over the past months at community meetings. Horan said the schools will consider all input when determining how best to craft the program’s plan and, if approved, and how the program will be implemented.

The school board will vote on whether or not to approve the program on Nov. 10, with the board of supervisors then hearing a presentation Nov. 17. If both approve the plan, the Virginia Department of Transportation then must also approve the program before the schools can apply for federal grants in December.

Shane Walter is a contributing writer for the Stafford County Sun. Reach him at .