Quick update on CKSS situation

Calendar September 10, 2012 | Posted by Mike Cluett

Im just getting ready to head out to our council meeting tonight but I wanted to update those of you who have emailed or called me in the last few days regarding the situation on Louis St Laurent, the new high school and about 1,200 new students in town.

Here’s an update on the new Craig Kielburger School situation in Ward 6.  As many of you know there have been a few issues since the new school has opened up.

The cafeteria not being available for students has left them with few options and one of those options being walking up Louis St Laurent, hanging out at the Metro mall, and then making their way back to school….leaving a huge mess behind.  The principal will continue to let them know that behaviour should stop going forward, so lets hope the kids listen.

There are also a number of traffic issues we’re facing and town staff has informed me a number of counts for traffic, pedestrians etc will be done very soon to assess what can be done along that route (ie traffic stops, stop signs, lights, etc)  I’ll keep everyone posted when the results come in and this is now a top priority of staff!

Thanks to everyone who emailed/call me with their concerns.

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4 Comments

  1. Anthony Kay says:
    September 10, 2012 at 6:19 pm

    I fail to understand why planning for what appears to be obvious is constantly done after the fact here in town. The school has only just opened, and yet even before it opened there were portables in the yard and classes will be taking place in them as soon as they can get the power hooked up. It’s absolutely disgusting that our kids need to be taught in these glorified mold factories simply because the local and provincial governments constantly fail to plan.

    The road and the traffic situation is just another example. Everyone knows the school is being built, they know that there will be a significant increase in traffic around the school, so why it is left until after the school opens to deal with things like installing traffic lights or widening the road around the school, etc?

    How hard is it for someone to have the common sense to think about these things ahead of time? It seems as though the public sector is stricken with a complete lack of awareness of what should be done before problems occur rather than after.

  2. Ray says:
    September 11, 2012 at 11:18 am

    I agree Anthony. Having spent sometime there a few days ago (I saw Mike taking pictures and speaking with bus drivers/teachers and even the students :) GREAT JOB MIKE! Nice to see someone working hands on.) and the place is a mess.

    If buses are going to be picking up or dropping off students there needs to be a bus area for that instead of blocking both lanes of traffic. Students arent blameless in this either. They need to obey the rules of the road and not just jump out into traffic thinking the cars will stop.

    Im encouraged by Mikes comments that this is a priority now (and should have been a long time ago) Im confident things will get done.

  3. Robin says:
    November 6, 2012 at 9:39 pm

    I agree with Anthony, but it is not just the school that falls under bad planning. Just look around town….

    These portables, have they passed inspection? Is there mold, mildew, asbestos hidden in these gems? how is the wiring?

    Ray has a good point regarding the buses, (for those who are lucky enough to get a bus) but that is another issue. What do you expect? a flawless plan right from the get go? I have sat at the corner of Louis St. Laurent after I dropped of my children, and with no crosswalk, no stop sign, no traffic lights and no crossing guard because high schools do not require one, how long do you expect the students to stand there and wait? There have only been a small amount of drivers that have actualy stopped and let the kids cross. You see, there is a stop sign but not for the east and west traffic traveling on Louis St. Laurent, it is at the end of Ferguson, what the hell good is that? There should be a 4 way stop sign and a crosswalk for our kids of the future to travel on and if the drivers do not like to sit and wait for students to cross, then take another route.

    As for the cafeteria, in a school that holds 1200 students, why is the caf only designed for 150? and it just recently opened but take a look at the track and the football field, beautiful! hollywood style. Since there was no where to eat lunch I suggest that all the students go eat on the football field.

    For the bus situation, I say the decision makers on the boundaries should strap on a loaded down back pack and hit the trails at 7:15 in the morning and hoof it to the school at 4 klm away. Let’s see how long it takes you.

    Thank you Mike, for taking a trip out to Alkatraz, that is what our students are referring CKSS to, but now as we are heading into Novemeber, I am not expecting any positive changes to happen, nice try tho, keeping our hopes up by your appearences and fooling us into believing that our kids’ safety and education is on the top of your priority list.

  4. Mike Cluett says:
    November 7, 2012 at 11:59 am

    Hi Robin,

    Thanks for your candid comments on this. Believe me when I say that you’re not alone feeling this way. I cant comment on the design of the school, or the way its run because I’m not a member of the school board. If students have concerns about the quality of the portables and any health related items, please have them contact the school and the Halton District School Board immediately.

    I would disagree with your comments that I am trying to keep up appearances because when it comes to the safety of our kids (I have two that go to Hawthorne Village and my oldest son will be going to CKSS in 2 years) it is a top priority.

    I have brought many concerns to town staff about this area including its speed limit, crosswalks and lights for the intersection. http://mikecluett.ca/2012/10/update-on-ckss-intersection/ Staff has looked at my and many other requests seriously and there will be a traffic light installed there as soon as possible. As soon as I get a firm time line on the installation, I will post it here on my site.

    Halton Police are monitoring the area on a regular basis to ensure speeding is kept to a minimum and I have been in contact with the Principal to help communicate the residents concerns about safety and garbage.

    I will continue to communicate with all the different levels of government that needs to be part of the discussion to help improve safety for the kids in the area as well as post updates here from time to time.

    Thanks again for your comments.

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