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Kaysville parents outraged, say route to new elementary school isn’t safe

Posted at 6:28 PM, Aug 19, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-19 20:28:44-04

KAYSVILLE – Elementary students in Kaysville will head back to school next week in a brand new building, but some parents are upset about the school route, which they say isn't safe.

“It's frustrating as parents,” said Kenny McWilliams.

McWilliams' first and third graders will be attending Kay’s Creek Elementary on Wednesday, a brand new school.

Making the mile-plus trek will be tricky. That’s because they’ll have to walk through a construction zone where there are no sidewalks. Kids will then have to cross Angel Street, a busy intersection. From there, they’ll make their way down 200 North, an area that also lacks sidewalks.

“Getting to school, it should not be very hard or difficult to provide crosswalks and safe ways to get to school,” said Mandy Taggart, a parent.

For weeks, parents demanded answers from Davis County School District and Kaysville City leaders. On Thursday, the district told them they would add 4 to 6 bus routes for a year. But parents say two subdivisions are left out.

“The challenge with that growth and building a new school is there is infrastructure in place, we do everything we can as far as the school district goes, some of that responsibility is shouldered by the city,” said Chris Williams, Community Relations Director for Davis County School District.

In a statement to FOX 13, Kaysville City Manager Shayne Scott said:

“We are working on adding sidewalks where we can, and working with UDOT on a long-term solution in these intersections, and working with Davis County School District on plans and modifications to make sure through busing or walking, each child arrives safe to this beautiful, new elementary school."

Parents argue that those plans should have been put in place years ago.

“The school was prepped, building was starting, you would think that the logistics part of it would be taken care of for the neighborhood on the two years they've been working on the school, not the two weeks before school starts,” McWilliams said.