7.d) SRTS Memo from Scandia ElementaryTo: City of Scandia
From: Julie Greiman, Principal, Scandia Elementary School
Safe Routes to School
Memorandum
1. What are Scandia Elementary's policies on bussing? Who gets a bus ride, and who doesn't?
Minnesota law states that elementary students who live more than a mile of their attendance school need to be
bussed. Secondary students have a two mile radius. In the Forest Lake School District, due to the rural nature
of many of our elementary schools and the fact that students would cross major highways to get to school, the
district offers bussing to all students.
2. What routes are kids using now to walk to school?
Students who walk or bike to school are required to obtain a walk/bike pass from the school because staff
closely monitors their safety. Of the 425 students currently attending Scandia Elementary, no students walk to
school. We do have six students who ride their bicycles. They will follow the frontage road out of the school
parking lot, and then follow the sidewalks along Oakhill Road and Olinda Trail to the center of Scandia, but
after that they must use the shoulders along city streets, county roads, and State Highway 97. These roads
have no sidewalks or trails.
The students who currently bike to school travel a distance of about 2-4 miles each way. Their routes follow
County Road 3 or Oakhill Road (both north and south of Hwy 97), or they follow Hwy 97.
3. What are the problem spots and barriers to walking?
Highway 97 is the biggest barrier and safety concern for Scandia Elementary students who would like to walk
or ride their bicycle to school. Scandia Elementary is located on this major highway, which hasa large volume
of truck and car traffic. The speed limit in front of the school is 50 mph. The safest place to cross Hwy 97 is
still a few blocks east of the school, at the four-way stop on Olinda Trail. There are no walking paths along
this road for safe pedestrian or bike traffic.
There is a lack of sidewalks/paths coming onto the school property. When students do leave the school
grounds by either walking or riding their bicycles, they need to use the same frontage road as other motorized
vehicles. The frontage road leads to Olinda Trail, which does have a sidewalk that leads into the City of
Scandia; however, once students go into the city there are no safe trails along Olinda and Oakhill for students
to use if they go further.
4. What times of day are they or would they be walking?
School begins at 9:15 and the walkers/bikers arrive at that time or a few minutes earlier. School ends at 3:30,
but the walkersibikers cannot leave until 3:40 once the buses are dismissed. We do this for safety reasons as
they are both using the frontage road leaving the school property at the same time.
5. How many students walk now? If they don't walk, why not? How many would walk if barriers were
removed?
Currently, we have 6 students riding their bikes. That number for students who ride/walk to Scandia has
stayed fairly consistent over the six years that I have been principal at Scandia. Because of the lack of trails
that are separate from the main roadways, many families are reluctant to allow their students to ride or walk to
school.
For some, there is quite a distance for them to have to cover to get to school as they try to find safe ways to
cross Highway 97 or the city streets of Olinda and Oakhill.
Here is the breakdown of the number of students who live within the boundaries of Scandia Elementary:
0-1 mile: 22
1-2 miles: 47
2-3 miles: 69
3+ miles: 294
A family survey on the use of safe trails would be beneficial in order to determine what the needs are for our
families.
6. How would Safe Bike Routes to School benefit our students at Scandia?
Forest Lake Area Schools places a high priority on student physical fitness and wellness. Our students receive
30 minutes of physical education class daily as well as 20 minutes of recess. The district has a wellness policy
in place and during the 2010-11 school year joined with the Minnesota SHIP program to increase further
health and wellness education in our schools. The Safe Routes grant would allow our students to add more
physical activity into their daily lives. Not only would students be able to use these trails during the school
year, but they would be able to utilize them in the summer months. Connecting the City of Scandia with a safe
trail system would build cohesion and a stronger sense of community within the city boundaries. Future trail
systems could also connect Scandia with other trail systems in the east metropolitan area. The opportunities
for family fitness are endless!
Sincerely.
Julie Greiman, Principal
Scandia Elementary School