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    Slow down! Back to School in Full Effect

    JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, UNITED STATES

    08.19.2016

    Story by Staff Sgt. Sheila deVera 

    Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs   

    JBER personnel should be mindful of the pedestrians and school zone safety lights.

    “The JBER-E [safety] lights will start flashing at around 8:50 a.m. and end at 9:20 a.m. with a speed limit of 20 mph,” said Senior Airman Jeffrey Travis, 673 Security Forces Squadron unit trainer. “The [JBER-R] lights start around 8 a.m. and end at 9:30 a.m. with a speed limit of 15 mph.”

    During normal operations, the speed limit near schools will return to 25 mph. Travis stressed drivers should pay attention to the signs, and school zone speed limits will be enforced regardless of the lights flashing. If caught speeding by 5 mph or more, [the driver] get a mandatory 30-day driving suspension, no questions asked, for a first offense on the installation.

    “Be diligent, obey the school zone speed limits and look out for children,” said School Officer Liaison Holly Warners. “Especially watch around neighborhood bus stops, school crosswalks, parking lots and student drop off areas.”

    Warners added drivers need to be mindful of school buses.

    “Always stop when the lights are flashing and allow students to get on and off the bus safely.”

    The responsibility of staying safe also falls on the students.

    “Students should arrive at the bus stop on time, properly dressed for the weather conditions and not engage in horseplay,” Warners said. “Parents need to remind children to behave and be respectful to other students as well as the bus driver. It is not the bus driver’s job to monitor behavior; their job is to drive the bus to and from school undistracted in the safest manner possible. Distractions to the driver put everyone in danger and are not tolerated.”

    Parents and children who are new to JBER are encouraged to reach out to the School Liaison Office.

    School liaison officers help transition families with school age children to and from the local area focusing on what school children will attend, options and school choices, special education resources and connections in schools and the district.

    If children are having difficulty transitioning, some district schools have counselors on staff to assist children as needed.

    “The JBER elementary schools are fortunate to have Military Family Life Counselors, whose primary job is to be present for students needing a little extra help adjusting to a transitions such as a permanent change of station, deployment, reintegration of a parent, etc. Parental permission is required,” Warner said. “Off base elementary, middle and high school with significant numbers of military connected students also have MFLCs assigned to them.”

    The first day of school for elementary students in the Anchorage School District will be Aug. 22 for grades 2 through 12; Aug. 29 for Kindergarten and first grade.

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    NEWS INFO

    Date Taken: 08.19.2016
    Date Posted: 08.19.2016 19:12
    Story ID: 207749
    Location: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US

    Web Views: 21
    Downloads: 0

    PUBLIC DOMAIN