Montclair Presented with Safe Routes to School Plaques
Article Date: Aug 28, 2013
l-r: Mayor Robert Jackson, Superintendent Penny MacCormack, Cheryl Hopper, Edgemont Principal
(Gold), Bullock Principal Nami Kuwabara (Bronze), Bradford Principal Naomi Kirkman (Silver) , and Perry
Frenzel, Chairman of Meadowlink, who presented the plaques.
At a ceremony at Edgemont School on August 26, three Montclair district schools and the
township of Montclair received plaques in recognition of their efforts throughout the year in
support of New Jersey Safe Routes to School. Montclair Mayor Robert Jackson, Superintendent
Penny MacCormack, along with Edgemont principal Cheryl Hopper, Bradford principal Naomi
Kirkman and Charles H. Bullock School principal Nami Kuwabara were on hand at Edgemont to
accept the Gold, Silver, and Bronze awards, respectively which were previously announced in
June.
“We are extremely happy that Montclair has endorsed this program to such a great extent and
embraces the realization that children are our future so we must provide the best environment
possible through safe ways of getting to school,” said Perry Frenzel, Chairman of Meadowlink,
who presented the plaques.
“I am thrilled that our students, staff and Board of Education have embraced this effort,” said
Mayor Jackson. “This is a tremendous honor for our schools and I congratulate everyone
involved.”
Montclair Receives Recognition from Safe Routes to School
Article Date: June 16, 2013
Three Montclair district schools and the
township of Montclair received recognition
from New Jersey Safe Routes to School
for their efforts throughout the year.
Edgemont Montessori earned a gold level
recognition award, Bradford a silver award,
Charles H. Bullock and Montclair
Township bronze awards. They were
among 58 applicants from throughout the
state: 13 attained Gold level recognition,
21 were Silver, 9 achieved Bronze and 15
were First Step winners. A list of all the
recipients can be found on the New Jersey
Safe Routes to School website.
A crossing guard makes sure a young student
biking to school crosses safely.
"The Edgemont community is thrilled to be recognized and encouraged by this Safe Routes to
School award,” said Edgemont Safe Routes parent coordinator Blythe Eaman. “Walking to
school is not just about getting from one place to another, it’s a community activity. Edgemont’s
program has succeeded because we emphasize not just walking, but we build our children’s selfesteem and independence, provide opportunities for physical exercise that improve learning, and
create a fun social component, all in addition to transportation.”
Edgemont's gold medal, which is the highest level, reflects their ongoing commitment to walking
and biking to school, explained Alex Kent, Montclair’s Safe Routes to School coordinator. “It is
best exemplified by the Boltage system that they have initiated, using funding from a grant
several years ago. A pole with a sensor was installed near the front of the school several years
ago, and children are issued tags with a chip that records their arrival when they walk under the
pole. The data is linked to a website where parents can register their children and how far away
they live so that the distance they travel can be tracked.” Edgemont has also shown that is has
completed several other walk and bike to school events over the year.
“With the leadership of our principal, Cheryl Hopper, and the Edgemont faculty, staff and
parents, we see our children making connections and choices that set positive patterns that can
last a lifetime,” she continued. “The Safe Routes to School program assures that our children can
safely participate in these life-building activities. The support of the entire community is
paramount.”
Bradford's silver medal reflects
the fact that they have been
holding regular walk to school
days, and organizing a walking
school bus. In addition, once a
month they host a healthy
breakfast for one grade on a
walk to school day. They also
have a School Travel Plan, have
done parent surveys, and have
Blythe Eaman conducts a walkability/bikeability assessment of
Edgemont School grounds with a group of Edgemont 4th and
held at least four events.
5th graders. Students took notes on areas around that school
where safety could be improved.
Bullock and the entire
Montclair District have garnered support from the Board of Ed, and have organized and held at
least two biking and walking events. This winter, Bullock kept their walk to school days going,
even during the colder months.
New Jersey Safe Routes to School (SRTS) is a statewide initiative to enable students to safely
walk and bicycle to school. SRTS encourages students to walk and bike to school. Communities
and schools that participate in the program benefit from healthier and more active children, less
traffic congestion, better air quality and fewer traffic conflicts near schools. Participants are part
of an ongoing process to making the community a better place.
“Thanks to the Safe Routes to School grant that Montclair has received and the workshops that
were held in all the Elementary and Middle Schools this year, parents and students are becoming
aware of the benefits and fun of walking and biking to school,” said Kent. “Every school has
stepped up in some way and are actively encouraging walking and biking, as well as working to
make their school environment safer for walkers and bikers. I'm confident that next year we will
continue to build on the participation we saw this year.”
“Meadowlink and our Safe Routes to School team are really proud of what Montclair has
accomplished in such a short amount of time. The community really pulled together and worked
hard to make Montclair safer, healthier and cleaner,” added Meeta Patel, Safe Routes to School
Program Coordinator/Meadowlink, an organization that assists communities in developing and
implementing projects and programs to encourage walking and bicycling to school while
enhancing the safety of these trips. “I'm glad that our organization has been able to work with
Montclair and share our programs with the students, teachers and parents. Meadowlink really
believes in its Safe Routes to School Program, and it's obvious that so does Montclair. It's
amazing to see the awards list and to see how quickly Montclair has progressed.”
Traffic Engineering and Safety
Montclair's Safe Routes to School Program
During the 2012/2013 school year every elementary and middle school in
Montclair hosted a Safe Routes to School (SRTS) workshop, made possible by a Federal
SRTS grant awarded to Montclair Township for education and encouragement of walking
or biking to school. The grant provided for hiring part-time Safe Routes to School
Coordinator Alex Kent, who is administering the grant through the the township
Engineering Bureau.
The education and encouragement grant also provided for hiring a consultant to conduct
the workshops and document the program needs. The RBA Group, an urban planning firm
with considerable experience working with other municipalities to develop SRTS plans,
was selected. RBA’s team also included Meadowlink (EZ Ride) and Arterial of Montclair.
Leading up to the workshops, the consultants met separately with the school principals and
small groups of students to find out their concerns and attitudes about walking and biking
in their school community. Their responses were then shared at each workshop, attended
by parents, school staff, the Montclair Township Engineer and the Police Department
Traffic Bureau. During the workshop, everyone had an opportunity to talk about perceived
barriers to walking and biking to school, as well as traffic safety concerns around their
school.
After each workshop, the consultants produced a Travel Plan for each school that includes
specific recommendations to make each school zone safer for biking and walking and an
action plan identifying each task and who’s responsible to get it done. The consultants
have also developed maps of the one mile radius around each school that show walking
distances by time and the location of crossing guards, crosswalks and traffic lights. Maps
are posted at each school and will soon be made available on the schools’ website.