Dear Members of the Northfield Community:
I am writing to you as the new Superintendent of Sunset Ridge School District 29. On behalf of our faculty and staff, I thank you for your support of our District. I am writing to highlight a critical issue as we look to the start of another exciting school year. The upcoming school year brings with it a unique challenge to our community- the Willow Road Construction Project!
To ensure the safety of our students (and all Northfield residents) during this construction project, Sunset Ridge District 29 is actively communicating and partnering with the Village of Northfield, the Illinois Department of Transportation, and Lorig Construction.
If you have traveled around our schools during our morning drop-off (i.e., 8-8:30 a.m.) or afternoon dismissal times (i.e., 3-3:45 p.m.), you have experienced the significant congestion around the buildings. The Willow Road Construction Project is sure to bring an added layer of complexity to this situation. Therefore, during the upcoming school year, you will see the following mechanisms in place to ensure the safety of our students:
1. A District staff member or Northfield Police Officer will be posted at the intersection of Sunset Ridge Road and Willow Road, and the intersection of Wagner Road and Willow Road during drop off and dismissal times to ensure the safety of students and families crossing Willow Road.
2. A Northfield Police Officer will assist in directing traffic out of the Middlefork and Sunset Ridge parking lots at dismissal times to reduce traffic congestion around the schools and facilitate a smooth dismissal.
3. A temporary sidewalk will be constructed on the south end of the Sunset Ridge School property that will connect to the sidewalk on Old Willow Road to ensure the safe passage of students during construction.
As the new school year officially begins on AUGUST 28, 2013, I am reaching out to all the members of our community to ask for your support and patience. Please keep in mind that our first priority is the safety of our students. I encourage you to be extra alert for pedestrian traffic around the schools, plan ahead for some added congestion during drop-off and dismissal times, follow the directions of our traffic control personnel, and be patient as we ‘navigate’ through the construction.
Please do not hesitate to contact me personally if you have any questions, concerns, of feedback. I can me reach by email @ stangee@sunsetridge29.org or by phone at 847.881.9456.
Sincerely,
Edward J. Stange
Superintendent of Schools Sunset Ridge School District 29
