<p>Incidents of students almost being struck by motorist while walking to and from school, around North Thurston High School and Chinook Middle School has caused us much anxiety in our community. On the morning of January 23rd, 2016 one child wasn't so lucky. Khiarah Bonnin was walking to school and was crossing at the crosswalk in front of Chinook Middle School when she was hit by a speeding motorist. It will be months before she will be able to walk again. This terrifying accident has forced us to act swiftly in our requests as we cant sit back and wait for a child to be killed next time. The pedestrian crosswalks around the schools need improvement and extra safety measures need to be put into place.</p><p>Some suggestions are: Turning on the school zone lights in front of Chinook Middle School at the same time as North Thurston High School, Install solar flashing crosswalks systems, and improve speed bumps around ALL of the schools including South Sound High and the New Aspire Gym. Not only will these things help keep our students, but it will help keep families safe who come out to our stadium to watch sporting events and who use our fields for sports practices all year around.</p><p>We, the undersigned, call on Mayor Andy Ryder, Mayor Stephen Buxbaun, Lacey City Council, and Olympia City Council to improve the schools crosswalk system and school zones in and around Chinook Middle School, North Thurston High School, South Sound High, and the new Aspire gym. These areas need to be safer for our students, families, athletes, and the community as a whole.</p>
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