Crime & Safety

Moms Give 'Walking School Bus' Program an A-Plus

Parents say the police department's Walking School Bus Program is a safe and reliable way to get their children to school.

Parents whose children take the police department’s to and from school are singing praises about how reliable and convenient it is and are encouraging other parents to take advantage of it.

The put the program in place about four years ago as a way to encourage parents to allow their children to walk to school safely under the guidance of a school marshal.

Jen Asplund, whose son Cole has been taking the Walking School Bus since the beginning of this school year, says, “We just love it. It’s so convenient for the family.” She says it’s especially great for parents who have younger children who are not yet in school.

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Before she was using the program she had to take along her infant and toddler each time she took her son to and from school. Now she doesn’t even have to get the younger kids dressed before Cole goes to school as she can easily take him to the corner along Burton Avenue where the Walking Bus picks him up.

Many parents tend to drive their children to the school and drop them off but this program allows them to avoid all that traffic. Instead her son gets to enjoy some time with his friends as they all walk along with the school marshal and also gets some fresh air too. Asplund said those parents who don’t live along Burton can drive their child to one of the corner stops to take the Walking Bus which is still easier than fighting traffic near the school.

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She admits she was hesitant when she first learned of the program but now she has found it really makes life so much easier and her friends who use the program agree. 

“I rely on it so much now and we are so thankful to have it,” says Asplund who added that her son Cole says he likes it because he can spend time with his friends before school.

Christine McGurran’s son Michael has been taking the Walking School Bus for the past two years since he was in Kindergarten. She says more parents should really take advantage of the program. She remembers the chaotic mornings when she had to drive her son to school but the Walking Bus lets her avoid all that.

McGurran said Robert Blauvelt, the school marshal who escorts the children in her area to school, is so responsible and the kids love him. “You feel very safe knowing the kids are in his hands,” she says.

Officer Ian Robertson of the traffic bureau says there are four routes in the Walking School Bus Program. Along with Blauvelt, school marshals Mike Gingerelli, Helena Brady and Gail Cahavatchel run the program.  Each one is assigned to a different route covering four areas the borough. Two marshals serve the routes north and south of Euclid School and the other two serve the areas around Lincoln.

Blauvelt, known by parents as “Mr. B,” has been running his Walking School Bus route since the program began. It’s a great job he really enjoys he says. To show their appreciation on behalf of all the parents, McGurran made a memory book for “Mr. B” last Christmas with photos of him with all the kids.

McGurran said after her son started taking the Walking Bus some of her neighbors followed suit and now they are all hooked.  She hopes to see more parents take advantage of the program and hopes it stays on forever.  She has two more children starting school in a couple of years and intends to have them take the Walking Bus.

The Walking School Bus is out there every day rain or shine. On Mondays and Wednesdays, “Mr. B” also walks the students an extra few blocks over to Corpus Christi for CCD class, which is another help to parents who otherwise may have to scramble to get their children to the afterschool program, Asplund advises.

The Walking School Bus Program serves the elementary schools. Children in all grades can take part and it can be arranged through the schools whose teachers will communicate to the police department which students are being picked up and dropped off, Robertson said.  

The implementation of this program has brought along additional advantages to the community. Robertson said the program helped the police department earn Safe Routes to School grants which have enabled the department to purchase the reflective jackets for the school marshals and all crossing guards.

Most recently the police department purchased .


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