Durham’s new “family responsibility zones,” designed to ease pressure on limited school bus resources, are requiring families of about 750 elementary students to find alternative transportation to school. This has created challenges for many schools, like Hope Valley Elementary, where 24% of affected students now walk, bike, or carpool. The Hope Valley PTA is stepping up by collecting winter clothes, distributing rain ponchos, and advocating for crossing guards, but issues like limited communication and closed sidewalks continue to create barriers for families.
At a virtual meeting, NCPTA President Dr. Shaneeka Moore-Lawrence urged PTAs to focus on safety and advocacy while avoiding liability risks, such as organizing walking groups in the PTA’s name. Instead, PTAs are encouraged to work with local officials to address gaps in transportation planning and ensure students can travel safely to school. Another meeting on this issue is scheduled for Monday at 4 p.m. for continued discussion.
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Author: Wes Platt
Lead storyteller. Game designer and journalist. Recovering Floridian. Email: southpointaccessnews@gmail.com.
