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Woman crusades for safety of Amish schoolchildren
(by Joseph Koziol Jr. - August 06, 2009)
Woman crusades for safety of Amish schoolchildren
By JOSEPH KOZIOL JR.
A Georgia Road resident told Burton Township Trustees Monday that she hoped to jump start a national program that will provide new safeguards for children walking to school.
Kathy Caldwell, who has opposed a county road project on her road, said she hoped to bring the "Safe Routes to School" program here. That, in turn, could result in crosswalks, pavement markings and a flashing sign to aid Amish children walking to a Georgia Road school.
Residents of Georgia Road have requested similar improvements from the Geauga County Engineer's Office, which is doing the road widening. But, county officials have turned down those requests.
Mrs. Caldwell said the national program could eliminate a "personal piece" out of the discussion by having an objective look at the situation.
"It would take away the we-they battle going on," she said. "The point is we get some objective people involved."
She said she learned of the program after conducting a personal survey of schools in Geauga County and looking at which had crosswalks.
A representative in the Chardon School District told her about the program, Mrs. Caldwell said. She said the representative told her that crosswalks are critical for the Chardon district. "They said, 'If they don't have crosswalks, they don't have walkers.'"
Mrs. Caldwell said the national program is intended to get children walking, but that would not be the case with the Amish. She said Amish children already are regular walkers to their schools.
"We don't have to encourage people, we've got the population," she said.
She said the program also calls for a cooperative effort with parents, particularly with PTAs, which she said was another non-factor in this situation. She said the parents already are involved with their children and the schools.
She said a representative of Ohio Department of Transportation told her that the program may take up to a year to implement. She said that may be good timing, because the area by the school may not be ripped up until next year.
She said she planned to approach the president of the Georgia Road School with the hope that it would spur interest in the program. Then, she said, she would leave it in their hands.
Mrs. Caldwell said the program even may offer funding for some of the improvements sought for the area.
Once the details have been worked out on which routes children will follow, the plan could be presented to Geauga County Commissioners for consideration.
Trustee Daniel Whiting said the program has been set up for public schools in mind and this may offer the state a chance to establish a pilot program for Amish schools.
Trustee Louis Mucci said if the program is good enough for Chardon, it's good enough for Burton.
"They (Chardon) all walk on water," he said. "We can walk on water, too."
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