Money Donated To Make Crosswalks Safer For Kids

Crosswalks at elementary schools in north Spokane County should be a little safer this year.

A Spokane insurance company donated $10,000 so the county sheriff’s department can buy traffic safety cones and flags for speed limit signs at county elementary schools.

School districts to be included are: Mead, Riverside, Nine Mile, Deer Park, Central Valley, East Valley and West Valley.

“Having (flags and cones) up might make (drivers) a little bit more aware,” said Cheryl Squires, a teacher at Deer Park Elementary. But, she said, most drivers observe the speed limit in the school zone.

The new safety equipment should be in place by March 1, said Sgt. Jim Finke, who’s in charge of traffic safety programs for the sheriff’s department.

At some North Side elementary schools, such as Nine Mile Falls, the majority of the children are bused, and there are no crosswalks.

At Nine Mile Falls, the dozen or so students who do walk have to dodge cars to cross the street, said Bob Stanek, who was principal for 19 years. Stanek would like to see a crosswalk put in to help those students cross the street.

Putting out cones and flags helps the department take a pro-active stance to traffic safety, Finke said, instead of merely sending deputies out to write tickets.

After numerous conversations with schools safety officials about the need for safer crosswalks, Finke sent letters to Spokane insurance companies, requesting money for the safety equipment.

“We didn’t have the funds for that (in the sheriff’s department budget),” said Finke, who wanted to find money for the project “to make drivers aware that there’s a school zone coming up.”

Research by the sheriff’s department has shown a marked decrease in speed of drivers when cones are out, he said.

Safeco Insurance Co. responded to Finke’s request in November and asked to be the sole sponsor of the safety program, Finke said. On Monday, Safeco presented a check for $10,000 to Sheriff John Goldman.

As sponsor, Safeco’s name will be listed on the cones and in safety pamphlets.

“It’ll be a real boost to safety for children,” Finke said. “It’s a very nice gesture on their part.”

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