LIHU‘E — As soon as the bell rings at the end of a school day, children pour out of classroom doors and scamper away.
Typically, this wouldn’t be deemed a potentially hazardous situation, unless you’re a student at Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School in Puhi where children must cross busy intersections with little or no protection from multiple vehicles that drive by, some clearly traveling over the 15 mile per hour speed limit, said Derek Trapp, a concerned citizen and owner of ABC Lawns.
Trapp said he has been worried about the safety of these children since he started tending grounds across the street from the school and wishes to shed light on the situation.
“There have been so many near misses that it’s frightening,” he said Thursday, adding that he regularly hears tires screeching and has witnessed many children experience close encounters with vehicles. “Some days it goes relatively smoothly, but there’s no rhyme or reason for this … I want to do something good before something horrible happens.”
The trouble lies with the fact that there is no crossing guard to help monitor the children and traffic each day after school, Trapp said.
Responsibility for implementing a school crossguard program ultimately lies with the Kaua‘i Police Department, said Mary Daubert, spokeswoman for the county.
The Department of Personnel Services manages recruitment and accepting of applications, though schools often help with referring interested individuals for processing, Daubert said in an e-mail Wednesday.
Schools that currently have crossing guards are Kalaheo, Kapa‘a, Koloa and Wilcox.
“Several applicants are now under review for positions at Chiefess Kamakahelei,” Daubert said. “Like all schools, the posted speed limit around Chiefess Kamakahelei is 15 mph during school hours, and KPD conducts regular checks of this to ensure that motorists are following the speed limit.”
Trapp said he is simply “putting the thought out there” and suggests that volunteers might be willing to offer their time for 15 to 20 minutes after school to help protect the children if the budget does not allow for hiring a permanent employee.
“Kaua‘i gets together to stop folks from coming out to the island and paddle out in the ocean, let’s get some of those people to come and watch their keiki cross the street and get home safely because they’re the future,” he said. “We’ve got to find something … Whether it’s a community-based effort, a county situation or school situation, somebody needs to do something about it.”
Chiefess Kamakahelei Principal Debra Badua did not return multiple messages seeking comment last week.
• Coco Zickos, business and environmental writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 251) or czickos@kauaipubco.com
