School zones are back in effect as children return to classrooms across the province, including here in the Central Okanagan. Superintendent of Schools and CEO or School District #23 Kevin Kaardal has a message for drivers. “Make sure you slow down in school zones and obey all laws and protect our children. We have a lot of young children traveling to school and we want to make sure everyone gets to and from school safely.” Children will be excited to see their classmates again and may not pay as much attention as they should. The RCMP will be looking out for them. “We’re concerned about kids crossing the streets unexpectedly,” said Const. Mike Della-Paolera with the Kelowna RCMP. “For some of them this is also a new experience, so they may not understand the dangers on the road.” He says Mounties will be in school zones to make sure kids and parents are watching where they’re going. “We will have our traffic services out there to help educate people in school zones. They’ll stop you and remind you, gently, that school zones are in effect,” he says, adding that they’ll monitor speeds and look out for drivers engaging in dangerous behavior, such as looking at their phones or making U-turns on busy roads. Drivers have two more school zones to remember in the Central Okanagan. Students return to renovated classrooms at Bellevue Creek Elementary in The Mission and Webber Road Elementary in Glenrosa. The buildings have been re-commissioned to accommodate growing enrollment in the area.
