Lind, Ritzville districts install safety beacons

The Lind and Ritzville School Districts have received a $30,000 grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission to purchase and install flashing beacon lights in the school zones.

The signs have been purchased and eight lights have been installed in both communities.

With the work completed, the school district can now be reimbursed by WTSC. The School Zone Flashing Light Grants cover the total cost of the project.

The signs were installed by custodial and transportation staff in both districts.

Lind-Ritzville School Districts superintendent Rob Roettger explained the decision to purchase the equipment was made with the understanding that when all of the equipment is installed, the districts will be reimbursed and the safety of the students will be improved without cost to the districts.

Before the installation of the beacon lights, students in high visibility vests carrying stop signs, monitored traffic around the schools before and after school.

Both districts are located in speed limit areas of 25 miles per hour, while school hours are reduced to 20 miles per hour.

With the grant application, school officials were required to list the average number of students attending the individual schools, the amount of cars traveling through the school zones, and the number of students who walk or ride a bike to school. Ritzville Mayor Linda Kadlec, Lind Mayor Jamie Schmunk and Adams County Engineer Scott Yaeger also supplied letters of support in regards to the signs being installed.

Grant writers Lisa Cox and Tina Shuler also included information regarding the pick up and drop off locations in both districts for students who travel to the neighboring town for classes.

While the students board the buses at the schools, the area is not well lit for drivers to clearly see students crossing the street to catch their bus.

The flashing lights help notify drivers that students are currently in the area and to slow down and use caution when the lights are flashing.