JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Parents continue voicing their concerns over Duval County Public Schools' master facility plan that could close nearly 30 schools.
They've been able to make their concerns known at public forum meetings being held in every district around town.
Safety and traffic were two big things brought up by parents at Tuesday's meeting.
The School Board has mentioned conducting traffic studies, but parents are asking them to conduct them when school's in session so the data can be useful.
“People that generally just live in the community are concerned about safety. Traffic is a big thing," said Tiffany Clark, District 4 resident and parent leader.
During Clark's three minutes of public comment tonight, she asked school board members to focus their attention on traffic during school hours.
"Kids walking back and forth to bus stops, pedestrians walking, it always creates a problem for our drivers as well," she said.
She believes if District 4 schools do close or consolidate, students would be commuting and walking on traffic filled streets.
"As you know there is always some type of alternate traffic pattern, road works going on and when you take that and you infuse that into a neighborhood or onto a school day onto the beginning or the end it gets very convoluted and it creates for the potential for a lot of different hazards," Clark said.
School board members did mention conducting a traffic study when asked by parents at other public forums.
It's something Clark believes would be beneficial if used right.
"I think the traffic studies are needed I hope that that is something they’re not going to put on the backburner or wait until something happens. I hope they are proactive and not reactive and are not just reacting to comments from our meetings," said Clark.
"Go out on a school day, go at the beginning of that day, the end of that day because that is going to be key in determining how many buses, we need on the road," she said.
The next DCPS Public Forum Meeting will be on Thursday, June 13 for District 6 at Ed White High School, it starts at 6 p.m.