A Monroe County Sheriff’s van used sparingly for varsity useful resource officer cadets will assist college students at one native faculty safely get to fitness center class throughout U.S. 1 to Founders Park in Islamorada.
On Feb. 14, Sheriff Rick Ramsay and deputies visited Treasure Village Montessori to current principal Kristin Brucia with the paperwork and keys to a automobile massive sufficient to move a category of pupils.
“We’re so grateful,” Brucia stated as she hopped into the motive force’s seat of the clear and lightly-used van.
Between the variety of autos on the freeway, the speeds motorists journey and instances of distracted driving, crossing U.S. 1 in Islamorada could be a daunting activity on any given day. With no crosswalks or lights to cease site visitors within the neighborhood, the varsity useful resource officer at Treasure Village Montessori, Chris Kilmurray, would briefly cease U.S. 1 site visitors to be able to transfer college students safely throughout to Founders Park.
Kilmurray witnessed situations of motorists failing to concentrate to what was in entrance of them, whether or not or not it’s distracted driving or taking a look at their telephones whereas driving. He ended up going to Brucia and his chain of command on the sheriff’s workplace to deal with the protection drawback.
The state of affairs was considered as an accident ready to occur, and the sheriff’s workplace’s chain of command agreed.
“It’s a very good high quality van. The tires are model new and it begins proper up,” Ramsay stated.
Brucia stated the varsity bought two new 14-passenger buses for protected transportation throughout the park in addition to future area journeys. These autos doubtless received’t be delivered till the top of the varsity yr, she stated.
Within the meantime, Brucia stated, the varsity has a protected means of instantly getting college students safely to the park without having to cross the freeway. She credited Kilmurray, Lt. Mike DiGiovanni and Ramsay for arising with the plan to donate a brand new, protected mode of transportation for college kids.
“The assist from the sheriff’s workplace means the whole lot,” Brucia stated. “Pupil security is paramount.”
Ramsay stated the van was one in all two used for varsity useful resource officer cadets. They aren’t put to make use of a lot, which led the sheriff’s workplace to provide away one for an necessary want.
Ramsay added the van has a hitch so the varsity can haul kayaks for area journeys.
“I believe they’re going to have a possibility to do extra than simply drive children throughout the road,” Ramsay stated.