In the wake of the tragic death of a crossing guard outside Smith Elementary School Monday, the Poughkeepsie City School District is working with the City of Poughkeepsie and other partners to find solutions to increase safety for those crossing the eastbound arterial.
Superintendent of Schools Gregory Mott and Assistant Superintendent of Schools Jessica Turner met with Mayor Yvonne Flowers, state Sen. Rob Rolison and other members of city leadership Tuesday morning at the school to discuss measures that can be taken to decrease the speed and recklessness of drivers on the three-lane state route and increase awareness.
James Montanino, a 72-year-old Poughkeepsie resident who for the past year has served as a school crossing guard, was fatally struck by a vehicle at the intersection of Baker and Quaker Streets outside Smith.
“Our hearts go out to the family,” Mott said. “We want to eliminate that from ever happening again.”
The incident was witnessed by some students and families from multiple schools and staff. The district Monday morning immediately sent additional counselors and staff to Smith to provide wellness and emotional support to students and staff, and made those resources available also at other schools like the high and middle schools. The district also held an afternoon session for families at the Jane Bolin Administration Building.
Flowers praised Turner’s leadership in working together to learn what other resources may be available through the city or county governments.
“As soon as this tragedy happened, we immediately contacted the school to see that the kids were still safe and find out how they were handling this kind of trauma in front of the school,” Flowers said. “Working with your mental health team here at the school, it was a really good collaboration.”
In addition to counselors provided by the city, the district was connected with the Dutchess County Stabilization Center, which remains a good option for those who need walk-in support handling trauma that may have been incurred. The 24-hour Stabilization Center is located at 230 North Road in Poughkeepsie and can be reached at 845-486-2849.
Separately, all parties began working together to address the root problem on the 30 MPH road.
Mott said the district is “Exploring short-term, long-term opportunities to further expand opportunities for transportation for our students here at Smith and potentially for others across the city.”
As of this fall, school bus transportation is provided to all elementary students who live at least a half-mile radius from their school; that leaves a handful of Smith students, and some headed to the high and middle schools, still needing to cross the arterial on foot. On Tuesday, district representatives talked with one of its transportation companies, BusRight, on ways it may be possible to expand the service.
Flowers said the city had already ordered extra traffic safety signs to be put along the road leading up to its intersection with the school, which should be installed in the coming days. City police, traffic officers and crossing guards will continue working together to make those road crossings as safe as possible.
“We’re working with our (Department of Public Works), with our police department, with our traffic control officers to see if there’s anything different that we can do around these intersections at the school – not only just here at Smith, but also at our other schools, as well,” she said. “I think we’re doing the best that we can to ensure everyone is safe.”
As the arterial is a state highway, Route 55, the Department of Transportation has jurisdiction over the road, making lowering the speed limit or adding traffic lights its decision.
Rolison, Flowers’ predecessor as mayor who now represents Poughkeepsie in the state senate, said he has already spoken to the department and state police regarding the expanse.
“We’ll continue to follow up, get some ideas and thoughts,” he said. “This is just a tough spot to begin with, for a school to be so close to a state highway with speeds that are over the limit and unsafe.”
Mott thanked the community leaders for joining the district in seeking solutions Tuesday morning. While some measures may come sooner than others, Mott said the district will “continue to emphasize the importance of safety, prioritize wellness and really put students and families first.”