Summer is over and it is Back to School time. Clayton children of all ages have returned to their classrooms and Clayton and Ygnacio Valley Roads are once again packed with commuters and parents trying to get their children to class on time.
The Clayton City Council has a history of supporting our local schools and promoting safety. We are actively engaged with our local principals, staff and parents and listen to their requests for assistance. As Councilmembers we have funded Crossing Guards at Mt. Diablo Elementary School. We have also funded and installed an interactive electronic “signal ahead” sign and authorized the diagonal re-striping at the intersection of Clayton Road and Marsh Creek at the Diablo View Middle School.
The City is currently working with Mt. Diablo Elementary School staff and the Clayton Police Department to assess new traffic movement restrictions and signage during school pick-up and drop-off time periods to improve traffic flow and safety for our children. This will be brought to the City Council for review at a future meeting.
As a Council member, I represent Clayton on the Central Contra Costa County transportation planning committee (TRANSPAC), and we are very aware of the increased traffic that flows through Clayton during commute hours. Council representatives to TRANSPAC and other regional committees must continue to press for traffic safety and efficiency improvements to keep our citizens and students safe during school hours resulting from the east county commute.
As mayor this past year, I had the pleasure of reviewing annual safety plans prepared by the principal and staff for both our elementary and middle schools. I attended a meeting/safety planning session with the Mt. Diablo Elementary School principal and staff who impressed me with their thought and efforts. Our Clayton Police Department works closely with school staff to review their site safety plans and protocols. Clayton’s key priority is to ensure the overall safety of our children throughout the school year (and beyond) both on and off school campuses.
In the wake of the tragic national school shooting events, members of the Clayton Police Department completed additional training in intruder / active shooter response and are available to local school principals and staff to augment their safety preparation. Similarly, during times of heightened local and national stress related to other school incidents or potential threats, Clayton police make their calming, on-campus presence visible to parents and staff.
This year marks 12 years that the Clayton City Council partners with our local schools to promote our city motto “Do the Right Thing” (DTRT). During the school year, the Council DTRT committee works with the principals and teachers to recognize local students exhibiting one of the seven character traits: responsibility, respect, kindness, self-discipline, integrity, courage, and inclusion. Students are selected by their teachers who personally share about how their student embodies the selected character trait. It is always a joy to recognize our young residents and realize just how bright our future is. Look for a presentation for the character traits “inclusion and courage” at our next city council meeting on September 20th.
As always, if you have any questions or suggestions about anything Clayton, at peterc@claytonca.gov, or (925) 673-7320.