Daniel T. Connor
Superintendent

227 Main Street
Goshen, NY 10924
(845) 615-6720

District news

New school dismissal procedures to begin in September

August 8, 2012 - In order to streamline the school dismissal process, officials at the Goshen Central School District have decided to make changes to the dismissal times and procedures for its four schools.

The reason behind the revisions stems mainly from issues at the Goshen Intermediate School, which will see the majority of the changes. Because of overcrowding in the parking lot and other issues, Principal Jason Carter estimates that dismissal normally takes up to 45 minutes at GIS, as compared to approximately 7 to 10 minutes at the other school buildings.

So what are the major changes for school dismissal in the fall?

• The C bus line will be eliminated at Goshen Intermediate School; instead, students will transfer at Scotchtown Avenue

• Goshen Intermediate School will dismiss before
  Scotchtown Avenue

• McNally Street will become a two-way street, allowing direct access to and from the Goshen Intermediate School

Too many vehicles in GIS parking lot causes delays

In past school years, the Goshen Intermediate School had three lines of bus groups at dismissal – A, B and C. The A group of buses lined up directly in front of the school, while the B group lined up behind them. The C group made up a third row of buses behind the B group. Because a large number of vehicles were packed into a small space, it was difficult to get all of the buses moving in a timely manner. If one line of buses was delayed for any reason, the buses behind it would be delayed as well.

Starting in September, there will no longer be a third line of buses, or the C group, during dismissal at GIS. Instead, GIS students who are assigned to C buses will first board an A or B bus after being dismissed. Then, they will be driven to the Scotchtown Avenue Elementary School where they will transfer to a different bus – a C bus – to go home.

“There are simply too many buses crowding into a small parking lot,” said Superintendent Daniel Connor. “This caused heavy delays at dismissal, especially combined with walkers and parent pick-ups. Scotchtown Avenue is better equipped to handle a larger amount of buses, and moving the C line from GIS to SAS allows the buses to get in and out much faster.”

GIS students to be picked up before SAS; McNally to become a two-way street

To accommodate the C bus line change, the Goshen Intermediate School will dismiss before Scotchtown Avenue – an adjustment from past dismissal procedures. Now, GIS students will be picked up first, and then the buses will travel to SAS. The SAS students will board their buses to go home, and GIS students who are assigned to a C bus will immediately transfer to their assigned bus. Once the transfer is complete, Scotchtown Avenue will be dismissed.

There is yet another change that will help alleviate dismissal issues. In order to ease traffic issues, the district sought permission from the Village of Goshen to allow McNally Street – the street leading up to GIS from Scotchtown Avenue – to become a two-way street for direct access to and from the school. The Village granted the district’s request, which will make a major difference in the flow of dismissal. Parents will now be able to utilize this street for afternoon pick-ups and buses will be able to leave the school without obstruction. The buses will make a right-hand turn from McNally onto Scotchtown Avenue when leaving GIS, which will result in fuel savings, additional instructional time and a more efficient bus route.

GIS parent pick-up procedure established for 2012-13

The Goshen Intermediate School has determined the most efficient route for parent pick-ups beginning in September. Parents are asked to use McNally Street to access GIS when picking up their child at dismissal. However, it is important to note that parents can not drive straight into the main parking lot. They must turn left when entering the school and drive toward the back parking lot, where they will loop around and then pick up their child from the small side parking area. Students will be waiting there for pick-up after being escorted by a faculty or staff member. After picking up your child, parents must exit GIS by going back down McNally Street. Parents are asked to no longer use Murray Avenue at dismissal so that they will not block the school buses. White arrows have been painted onto the back parking lot and driving areas so that parents will have an easy way to follow the pick-up route. View the photo gallery of the parent pick-up procedure

CJH, GHS to see only small changes with dismissals

The other two schools, C. J. Hooker Middle School and Goshen High School, will have small time changes of approximately 1-4 minutes, simply so the buses have time to get there after dropping students from both SAS and GIS at their bus stops.

“We believe that these changes will ultimately streamline the dismissal process and allow our students and their parents a more efficient and reliable dismissal from school,” said Connor.