Cincinnati Public Schools and City Council are set to have a special joint meeting to discuss student safety and summer programming. The conversation will cover topics from Hamilton County Juvenile Court to traffic calming efforts in school zones.

Student Safety Concerns

Juvenile Court has been making strides in the past year, giving kids options for meaningful work in the summer months. Leaders will also discuss efforts to keep kids out of trouble. Making the walk to school safer has also been a big cause for concern.

According to data, 24% of citywide crashes occurred within 1,000 feet of a school zone in the past three years. Of pedestrian and bike crashes, 32% happened near a school zone. CPS Board President Brandon Craig says this conversation is one that needs to be had.

Craig stated, “To work on thinking about how we address the traffic patterns that go around some of our schools, some of the areas around our schools, whether or not there’s needs for additional– whether it’s ways to stop traffic or slow down traffic, where we could be putting a little bit more focus on some of our crossing guard efforts.” Craig also noted that many schools are on major roads, which poses a challenge for students trying to cross the street.

Additional Safety Measures

Leaders will also talk about the plan for additional lighting and cameras in city parks and playgrounds in the wake of several deadly shootings. The meeting will provide an update on where those efforts stand, months after funding was set aside for the work.

Original reporting: WLWT Cincinnati — read the source article.