Colorado Elementary, Middle School parents reminded of traffic protocol

Colorado City Police Chief Charles Rice would like to make parents of Colorado Elementary and Colorado Middle School students aware of what to expect the morning of the first day of school Thursday, August 15th. Police officers will have traffic blocked off in front of the campus, so parents have a decision to make.

Barricades on 10th Street will be put up from 7:00 a.m. to 8:20 a.m. and again at the end of the school day, 2:00 p.m. until kids have been picked up.

Chief Rice said for the first couple of days of the new school year, police officers will be helping to direct traffic at the newer campus. No one will be allowed to travel all the way down 10th Street, and no parking on the side of the street will be allowed either, as that would be a traffic hazard.

Parents dropping kids off at Colorado Elementary will travel east on 10th Street to the campus, make the drop off loop in the parking lot, and then back west down 10th Street to exit the campus. CMS drop-offs will need to enter the other side of 10th from Hwy. 208, travel west to the campus entrance and then go back east on 10th to exit.

Rice advises parents with kids on both sides of the campus to pick a side and let some of the kids walk on the sidewalk to the correct side of the campus.

Anyone passing the barricades will be cited, according to Rice, and he said the police department will be enforcing speed limits in school zones. He went on to say, “If you travel 10th Street during those hours, for work or other activities, it is suggested you take a different route, especially during these first couple of days, when the barricades will be up.”

Rice would also like to remind parents and drivers, cell phones are prohibited in school zones, which includes the parking and drop off areas of the schools.

So, everyone is asked to be on their best driving behavior and be courteous and patient, so students can start the school year on the best foot possible.