Lee County parents demand safety changes at Sunshine Elementary drop-off

 

Families contacted WINK News for help after months of asking for safety improvements. They say parents illegally park along the roads, make U-turns, and even drop their kids off in the middle of the road.

Video shared with WINK News shows children darting between cars, parents making U-turns and hitting curbs, and traffic backing up around the school.

"It's chaos," said Carrie Faith, a grandparent of a student at the school. "Parents are dropping their kids off in the middle of the street. Cars are flying down here at 40, 50 miles an hour."

Cindy Allen, another grandparent of a student at the school, said hundreds of students are dropped off each morning. Despite that, families say there's no marked crosswalk, no flashing school zone lights, and no reduced speed signage.

"We don't have a school zone," Faith said. "I mean, give us that, you know, just something to detour something bad happening."

The school district told WINK News that the safety and security of students is its highest priority. The district regularly reviews school pick-up and drop-off procedures and collaborates with municipal partners on installing safety measures on public roadways. 

Sunshine Elementary has frequently shared the school's pick-up and drop-off procedures with families, and the district encourages families to follow the guidelines. 

The district also regularly reports traffic concerns to the Lee County Sheriff's Office, and deputies provide traffic control and enforcement when available.

Parents say they've been asking for changes for months.

"We can't get school zone signs," Allen said. "We can't get sidewalks out here because there's a bunch of red tape, and we just were asking for help."

The Lee County Sheriff's Office told WINK News that 2nd Precinct deputies, along with the Traffic Unit and Youth Services Division, routinely conduct high-visibility traffic operations outside Sunshine Elementary School to keep students and drivers safe. Deputies specifically monitor stopped and parked vehicles across from the school, give out warnings, and educate parents on proper traffic procedures.

Deputies are actively working with the Lee County School District to evaluate pick-up and drop-off procedures and identify ways to enhance student safety.

Families say they're not asking for much—just additional safety measures before it's too late.

"It shouldn't be a sacrifice of a life in order to get something safe," Allen said.

The Lee County Department of Transportation tells WINK News, "Per the FDOT manual, as there is no marked crosswalk and only a few walking students crossing the road, the school qualifies for a School Entrance sign with an advisory speed of 20 mph. 

Based on the parents' request and the school's compliance with the requirements, the appropriate signs have been ordered and will be installed within the next several weeks. 

Sunshine Elementary has made enhancements to the on-site parent drop-off and pick-up location to provide additional queueing space and help reduce the delay for parents.