Butler County schools gear up as student drivers head back to class this fall
Thousands of students from Butler County’s nine school districts are about to be back on the road, traveling to and from school five days a week — some of them behind the wheel of their own vehicles.
With young motorists adding to congestion in the mornings and afternoons, schools implement their own policies related to increased traffic, parking privileges and educating our future drivers.
“We got started on routes at end of last school year and work during summer months to develop them,” said Eric Ritzert, Karns City’s superintendent.
In his district’s case, he finds they don’t change substantially, but says it is important to reassess how students from the 330-square-mile space spread over three counties make it to their schools daily.
In addition to usual traffic patterns to consider, recent projects could impact those getting to and from school in some locations.
Knoch School District is currently wrapping up a $39 million high school renovation, which includes renovating its front parking lot and its entrances along Dinnerbell Road and Knoch Road.
Earlier this year, Freeport’s school board voted to renovate its high school building in the coming years, with plans that will include a reconfiguration of parking.
Plus, PennDOT has future plans to widen Route 356, which the high school sits along. This, along with widening of Route 228 where Mars Area High School sits along, will place some area schools on busy traffic routes.
With many of those students driving on their own to school upon turning 16 and getting a driver’s license, traffic increases at the high school level.
Schools have various rules and regulations surrounding what students get to use limited parking spaces and many treat it as a privilege.
Josh Schwoebel, Mars Area School District’s director of communications, said its high school cannot meet every student’s driving need due to a limited amount of parking.
Permission to drive is granted on a first-come-first-serve basis in the following priority order: students who attend Butler County Area Vocational-Technical School, seniors, juniors in extracurricular activities or working after school and then remaining juniors.
Mars’ website also says student vehicles parked on campus without a parking permit may be towed.
The annual fee for a student lot parking space is $100. In addition, students applying for a parking permit must submit to random drug/alcohol and urine testing.
And with an influx of students every year getting their drivers license, educating those students has been on the minds of several districts in Butler County.
This isn’t something available everywhere. For instance, Seneca Valley does not offer a driver’s education course.
Karns City, for instance, has a summer driver’s education program that includes behind the wheel training in addition to classroom lessons.
“Our teacher for the driver’s ed program is actually certified through PennDOT and can sign off and award a license to students,” Ritzert said. “It’s a $250 fee, and it helps make students better drivers and more comfortable.”
Knoch High School does offer a safety course in a classroom setting, which features instruction for student drivers, but also introduces students to firearm safety, water and boating safety and more.
Jenny Webb, Knoch’s head of communications, said the school has traditionally offered behind-the-wheel driver's training, thanks to having a dedicated vehicle donated by Diehl Automotive, but the school is currently looking to replace its instructor for the beginning of the school year.
