Dear Otter Valley Families,
Student safety is our highest priority. This year, with the intermingling of busses and cars on Route 7 near our dismissal time, there have been several traffic incidents during the dismissal window. To improve safety and reduce congestion between buses and cars, the school will implement a new dismissal traffic pattern beginning Monday, March 30, 2026.
These changes are designed to separate buses and cars during dismissal and create a safer environment
for students, families, and staff.
Bus Riders
● All buses will line up in front of the school.
● Bus riders will exit through the main entrance and board buses in front of the building.
Student Drivers
● Student drivers will also exit through the main entrance at dismissal and then walk to their
vehicles. These vehicles will then exit through the southern parking lot exit only. This is not a
change.
● Student athletes who are returning to OV for practice can park in the student lot (check in with crossing guard) or west/north parking lots.
Family Pick-Up (Car Riders)
● Cars must enter campus from Route 7 in the main entrance (center).
● Vehicles should follow the loop around the south, west, and north sides of the building.
● Car riders will be picked up on the north side of the building.
● Cars will not be allowed to pick up students in the main parking lot by the baseball field.
Important Traffic Expectations
To help the new system run safely and efficiently:
● No stopping is permitted at the main entrance to the school.
Drivers must wait in the Route 7 turning lane or continue around the building.
● The lane and front parking area by the main entrance will be closed to cars daily from
2:30–3:15 PM while buses load.
● No family pickup will be allowed in the student parking lot.
● Vehicles may not pass, move around, or back out near buses while their red lights are flashing.
Additional Safety Supports
To help with this transition, the district will:
● Provide communication to families, students, and staff beginning the week of March 23.
● Add temporary security services during the first two weeks of implementation.
● Install new signage and pavement markings to clarify traffic expectations.
● Use additional cameras to monitor traffic flow and safety around the building.
We appreciate your cooperation as we implement these changes to improve dismissal safety. The new procedures will be reviewed after April Break and adjustments will be made if needed.
Thank you for helping us keep our students safe.
Sincerely,
Michael Ruppel, Principal
Abby Brodowski, Associate Principal
Joel Jones, Associate Principal
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