PEABODY — Mayor Edward A. Bettencourt, Jr. on Friday announced the formation of a new school safety task force, part of a broader effort by the city to solidify the safety of school zones following a series of traffic incidents, some of which resulted in serious injuries.
Bettencourt will serve as a co-chair of the new task force along with Maria Scheri, the parent of a Peabody Public Schools student, who will coordinate the new group’s work. Scheri is also the founder of the Stop the Operator from Passing campaign, which focuses on enforcing penalties for drivers who do not stop for school buses when required.
Along with Bettencourt and Scheri, the task force will comprise parents and other community members, Peabody Public Schools administrators and transportation coordinators, Peabody Police Department traffic safety officers, and representatives from the School Committee, City Council, Health Department, Peabody TV, and Massachusetts Department of Transportation program Safe Routes to School.
“Nothing is more important than the health and safety of our children,” said Bettencourt in a statement. “I ask all drivers to follow proper procedures, including stopping when school buses are picking up or letting out students; respecting school zone speed limits; and yielding to pedestrians in crosswalks.”
“While walking with my child to school, I have witnessed countless drivers passing school buses, and a number of near-misses of students crossing the street, even while in crosswalks and with crossing guards present,” Scheri said in the statement. “We need everyone to join in making our streets and sidewalks safe, not just for our students, but for all pedestrians.”
The announcement of the task force’s formation comes on the heels of a unanimous vote by the School Committee to enter into a zero-cost pilot program with BusPatrol to install video cameras on the stop arms of up to 10 Peabody school buses. That initiative is intended to gather data demonstrating the need for a statewide law mandating cameras on school buses, the statement said.
The Task Force already has a number of initiatives planned to tackle school safety, the statement said. It is currently working on developing education for students about bus and traffic safety, and for drivers to raise their awareness about school zone safety and existing laws.
In addition, the city’s public safety officers and bus contractors will work together to identify physical improvements to trouble spots.
“Our community knows how to work together to solve complex problems,” Bettencourt said.
Anyone interested in assisting the city with the initiative is encouraged to reach out to Scheri at [email protected].
