SitemapYoungstown city and schools leaders applauded the improved
paths to school – specifically around Taft Elementary – a week before school
starts.
The Youngstown Neighborhood Development Corp., city of Youngstown, city
school district, Taft School Area Block Watch and the Taft Promise Neighborhood
coalition unveiled upgraded sidewalks Tuesday morning. Although it may seem
like something small, school district CEO Krish Mohip said the message is big:
“Placing importance on our students.” Mohip said he was “excited to see
community come together and provide resources children need.” “What this – to
me – shows is that we have an entire community standing behind our children
saying, ‘We can do better, and we will do better,’” he said. Tara
Walker-Pollock, Success After 6 manager, shared Mohip’s excitement about
district improvements. “This is just one more improvement to help our
children,” she said. Tanisha McMullen, Success After 6 coordinator at Taft,
mirrored their sentiment. “It’s going to be a new year with a new opportunity
for the children to be safe,” she said. “Before, there were so many cracks in
the sidewalks, and now we don’t have to worry about them falling and tripping
on holes.” Youngstown police officer Phil Skowron said he appreciates the
safety aspect Safe Routes to Schools provides. “It’s just good the kids don’t
have to be walking on the street, and have good sidewalks to walk on,” he said.
The infrastructure improvements, including new sidewalks, curb ramps and a
bicycle rack, were funded by a grant to the city from the Ohio Department of
Transportation Safe Routes to School program. The city was awarded $200,000 in
2015. The improvements are part of the Safe Routes to School program, which
seeks to build safer environments and encourage more students to walk and
bicycle to school. Taft was selected because it has the highest percentage of
students who walk to school of any school in the district. Funding has been
secured for similar improvements around Harding, Williamson and McGuffey
Elementary schools. To read the full story from The VIndicator, click here.