FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Alexandria Castellanos
Email: a.castellanos@lausd.net
Phone: (213) 608-5897
Los Angeles Unified Approves Resolution to Boost Student Safety and Annually
Celebrate Walk & Roll to School Day
LOS ANGELES, CA (SEPT. 20, 2024) — The Los Angeles Unified Board of Education has unanimously approved Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin’s resolution, to strengthen student safety by officially launching October 9, 2024, as Walk & Roll to School Day and collaborating with local governments to assess safe routes to school and advocate for funding and legislation to create safer, walkable school communities.
In response to rising concerns about student safety around schools, LAUSD is taking action. According to the 2023-2024 LAUSD School Experience Survey, fewer students feel safe in their neighborhoods compared to previous years, and traffic collisions remain the leading cause of death for children ages 4-14 in Los Angeles County. This resolution is designed to address these issues by promoting safer streets and healthier activity levels for students.
“This resolution is an important step toward ensuring every student can travel to school safely, reducing pedestrian injury and death as a result of traffic collisions, the number one cause of death for children ages 4-14 years old,” Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin said. “This resolution is personal, as it was inspired by families in Board District 7, where we have lost several students to hit and run accidents in recent years. Only together can we ensure safer and healthier streets for our students and families.”
“Los Angeles Unified is committed to ensuring safe passages to and from school for students and families,” Superintendent Alberto M. Carvalho said. “Through our safety enhancements as well as partnerships with the City of Los Angeles, law enforcement agencies and community partners have made incredible strides in implementing more crosswalks, enhanced traffic safety, crossing guards and school slow zones. We are eager to observe Walk & Roll to School Day.”
“I love when students and families walk or roll to their neighborhood school,” President Board Member Jackie Goldberg said. “Because L.A. is a car city, we need to do all we can to make it safe for our students to get to and from school. That’s why I enthusiastically support Board Member Ortiz-Franklin’s Resolution for Safe, Sustainable Streets: Walk & Roll to School.”
“Students must be safe inside schools but also on the way to school,” said Board Vice President Scott M. Schmerelson. “Last week, the outside temperature was over 100 degrees in Los Angeles. I am proud to advocate, not just for protected bike lanes and safer sidewalks but also for a healthier environment. The city must do more to help alleviate unsafe temperatures by planting more trees and establishing natural shade for the protection of our students and the entire LAUSD community.”
“I am in support of recognizing Walk & Roll to School Day in LA Unified,” Board Member George J. McKenna lll said. “On October 9, 2024, our families can support raising awareness of the need for safer routes for walking and bicycling and emphasize the associated benefits such as increasing physical activity among children, pedestrian safety, mitigated traffic congestion and increased concern for the environment.”
“Establishing an annual ‘Walk & Roll to School Day’ is a crucial step towards creating safer, healthier, and more connected communities,” said Board Member Dr. Rocío Rivas. “By actively assessing and advocating for safer routes to school, we are not only encouraging physical activity but also fostering a sense of connection and belonging within our neighborhoods. This resolution paves the way for a brighter, healthier future for our students and our communities.”
“I have been a strong advocate for ensuring stronger traffic safety around our schools, and appreciate the meaningful work to support safer, walkable school communities with the addition of more speed humps and crossing guards across our District,” Board Member Nick Melvoin said. “I’m proud to support these and continued efforts to ensure that our kids and families can celebrate ‘Walk and Roll Day’ in a fun and safe way!”
“We must continue collaborating with community partners and our local government agencies to ensure our students and staff have safe routes to and from school,” Board Member Kelly Gonez said. “I’ve been proud to join my colleagues in supporting efforts, including the Healthy Streets LA ballot initiative passed by voters earlier this year, that provide for road improvements and community safety initiatives in support of our students, families, and staff.”
"As a student who proudly uses alternative methods of transportation, I encourage my peers to join the Walk & Roll to School Day,” Student Board Member, Anely Lopez Cortez. “Walking not only supports a healthier environment but also offers important physical and mental health benefits. I’m grateful for the Board’s commitment to our safety, including the addition of crossing guards and the enforcement of safe speed limits around our schools."
“My advocacy started when a family at my kids' school was nearly struck by a car while crossing the street to school. I learned that, unlike the surrounding cities, Gardena does not provide crossing guards for schools,” Jenny Chen, a parent at Chapman ES said. “I wanted my school to do the October Walk-to-School event for everyone to experience what it's like to walk to school, and to increase visibility of pedestrians for drivers commuting in the mornings.”
“Since not all schools in LAUSD have crossing guards, there is an inequity in student safety for families walking to school,” Chen said. “I am grateful to Board Member Ortiz Franklin for bringing forth this resolution so that, hopefully, all schools will consider doing this one-day-a-year event to help their students and families stay safe traveling to school.”
“I have lived on Fries Ave for nine years and have witnessed first hand the lack of safety on my street from the broken sidewalk to the speed racers that fly down by the street,” Alicia Baltazar, Board District 7 Family Advisory Council Member said. “I was excited when Councilman Tim McOsker agreed to meet with my neighbors to discuss what we felt we needed to feel safe. I was even more pleased when Mayor Karen Bass and Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin addressed the issue.”
Los Angeles Unified School District continues its commitment to providing safe, sustainable, and equitable transportation options, reinforcing its focus on student wellbeing and community safety.
Board Member Ortiz Franklin is a member of the Los Angeles Unified Board of Education representing Board District 7, where she was previously a student, teacher, teacher-educator and advocate. She is committed to ensuring all students graduate fully prepared to thrive in the college, career and life of their choice. Los Angeles Unified Board District 7 includes the diverse communities of South Los Angeles, Watts, Gardena, Carson, Lomita, Harbor City, Wilmington and San Pedro.
For more information about Board District 7, visit us at https://achieve.lausd.net/bd7 or follow us on social media: Instagram (@lausdbd7), Facebook (@lausdbd7), Twitter(X) (@lausdbd7).
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