Student hit by car raises safety concerns following school redistricting

SWAMPSCOTT-Parents are up in arms following an incident in which an elementary school child was struck by a car on his way home from school at 3:18 p.m. Thursday.On Monday, several parents said the district was warned this would happen when Machon Elementary School was closed and students were redistricted to other schools.Clarke School student Dan Dumais was on his way home from school when the accident occurred. Dumais was hit by a vehicle driven by Ynes Paulino, 46, 177 Williams Ave., Apt. 2, Lynn at the corner of Essex and Burrill streets.Paulino was cited for failing to stop for a red light and failure to stop for a pedestrian in the sidewalk.The school crossing guard stationed at that intersection leaves at 3 p.m. and was not present when Dumais was struck.In May, when Malone announced he was closing Machon Elementary School and redistricting students to the three remaining elementary schools, many parents expressed concern about children crossing major thoroughfares, including Essex Street.Dumais is one of the Machon Elementary School students redistricted to Clarke this fall. Attempts to reach his mother Catherine Dumais were unsuccessful on Monday, but several other parents had plenty to say about the accident.Debbie Davis was one the parents who spoke at School Committee meetings last spring regarding the redistricting and students crossing Essex Street.?Safety should be our number one priority,” she said on Monday. “Clarke students are dismissed at 2:15 and students at the middle school are dismissed at 2:35. We need to have a crossing guard there until at least 3:15. If we don’t there are going to be more incidents like this.”Karen Donaher, who has a son in the fifth grade pilot program at the middle school, agreed a crossing guard should be available until at least 3:15 p.m. to give students from the middle school time to get through that intersection.Calls to Superintendent Matthew Malone were not returned on Monday, but School Chairman David Whelan said it was an unfortunate accident. Whelan said he did not have details on the accident other than it happened after 3 p.m.?I understand the frustration on the part of the parents in the community,” he said. “My understanding is that crossing guard was supposed to be there until 3 p.m. and I have no reason to believe the crossing guard did not remain at the post until 3 p.m.”Whelan said if parents believe 3 p.m. does not give students ample time to get from school, which is dismissed at 2:15 p.m., to that intersection, then it is something that should be looked at.?The question is where our responsibility ends,” he said. “If parents believe crossing guards are needed past 3 p.m. it is something we’d take a look at.”Davis also questioned why parents weren’t notified about the accident, as well as an abduction attempt that took place on Walker Road Friday afternoon.?Malone is always talking about (how) the safety of our students is top priority, but parents didn’t hear a word until they read about these incidents in the paper,” she said. “The school uses the automated telephone system to call parents about fundraisers and events but when there is a problem we don’t hear a word. If safety is a top priority why aren’t parents being notified when these situations arise?”