MPHS still needs crosswalks in front

In front of Marysville-Pilchuck High School is 108th Street. On 108th there are no crosswalks, flashing lights, and barely any law officers. To top it off, the sidewalk is not very long. I am horrified by the lack of safety at MPHS.

A couple of students have come close to getting hit. In 2005, one teenager, Keito Swan, was actually hit by a moving bus. After Keito was hit by the bus, there was too little done about the poor lights. You can’t see kids in dark clothing walking across the street. Most adults ask, “Well, why don’t students use the crosswalk?” Well, there is no crosswalk in front of the school.

Most drivers in the morning and afternoon who are on 108th Street have to slam on their brakes because most kids will just walk into the road without looking. Why? Because they are tired of waiting for somebody to stop for them. Most kids would use a crosswalk, but for the kids who wouldn’t; why not write tickets for jaywalking? With the crosswalks there should be flashing yellow lights. That way people would take notice and stop.

What we need is crosswalks, more lights, and more law enforcers around the school. In the more than 30 years that MPHS has been alive, one student has almost died from being hit by a vehicle (that I know of). How many more students are going to get hit before the school board does anything?

As students, we have a right to feel safe. But as of now, most students who walk to school feel frightened because they could be the next to get hit by a moving vehicle. The school board is willing to pay $80 million for a new high school, but they won’t spend money on safety for the current high school.

COURTNEY WEAR

Lake Stevens