No steps forward in school crosswalk debate

The Higley Unified School District board is pushing for a temporary solution to address safety concerns at an intersection near one of its new schools.

But Gilbert officials, who have said a permanent crosswalk can’t be put in until the road is widened, don’t have a temporary solution other than have the district continue to bus students across the road.

District and town officials met to discuss the problem Oct. 19. But last week, school board members remained unsatisfied that a solution had not been found.

When Chaparral Elementary School opened this school year, the busy intersection of Frye and Higley roads presented a problem for students who live west of Higley Road because there is no light or crosswalk to help them cross the street safely.

Suggestions were given to put in either a temporary crosswalk or light at that intersection, or at Parkview and Higley roads.

However, town officials said there is no feasible temporary solution because of safety, costs and upcoming construction. The district will have to wait at least two years until road-widening work at that intersection is finished with a traffic signal and crosswalk.

Construction tentatively begins in February to widen Higley Road as part of a bond package going to voters in November. The construction is expected to take at least 18 months, Town Manager George Pettit said.

At the Oct. 19 meeting, Gilbert put everything on the table, including timelines, issues and plans, town officials said.

Town officials said they were under the impression that the district understood why the proposed temporary solutions were unacceptable.

Gilbert Councilman Don Skousen, who attended the meeting, said, “It’s a tough place until we get the construction done.

“If you put a crosswalk up (now), some little kid gets a false sense of security,” he said. “If you paint some yellow lines, having people stand and stop traffic, somebody is going to get hurt.”

The district provides bus service to students who live west of the busy road. And town staff said that solves the safety issue until the construction is finished.

However, the district is also concerned about money being spent on these buses because the students live within walking distance of the school. The district said it will continue to offer the buses, but the money should be spent in the classroom instead.

Ed Moore, the board’s president, said the whole issue is “just frustrating.”

“The taxpayers of our district are paying for the kids to be transported,” he said. “Financially, the district is better off to have a crosswalk.”

Higley board member Denise Standage, who attended the Oct. 19 meeting, said she was “hoping the city would come up with a reasonable solution.” However, at the meeting, “there was no solution.”

“I know it’s expensive. I know everybody is concerned about the safety of kids, including the city. But who will be responsible if something happens to one of the kids crossing the road?” she said. “If there’s nothing there — no crosswalk at all — who is going to be liable?”

The district is considering drafting a letter to Gilbert to again address the problem and the need to find a satisfactory resolution for all, district spokeswoman Sara Bresnahan said.