News Photo by Reagan Voetberg Erin Erin Quinlan-Paskus, Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator with Michigan Fitness, speaks to the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education on Monday.

ALPENA — On Monday, the Alpena Public Schools Board of Education discussed pursuing a $300,000 grant that would aid in creating safer routes to school.

The grant is called Safe Routes to School. It covers construction costs for amenities like sidewalks and crosswalks to make routes to school safer for students.

Superintendent Dave Rabbideau said the grant fits into the strategic plan as well as long term planning goals.

Erin Quinlan-Paskus, Safe Routes to School Program Coordinator with Michigan Fitness, spoke to the board about the grant and the application process. Quinlan-Paskus will help guide the district through the process and communicate with organizations like the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The grant can cover construction work within a two mile radius of any chosen building. There is also $15,000 allocated for programming and activities in addition to the $300,000.

Before applying, the district will have to create an action plan, which can take six to nine months, Quinlan-Paskus said.

Creating the action plan will include surveying parents and students and walking through areas where infrastructure could be improved to allow safe passage for commuting by foot or bicycle.

The walk-through is called a walking audit, where participants will take notes of what they notice and what could be improved.

Quinlan-Paskus said the grant can be used for infrastructure like sidewalks, multi-use trails, crossing improvements, like crosswalk paint, a signal, or bump outs, which physically narrow the road and give pedestrians more room.

The grant does not cover engineering costs. Any permitting or anything needed to get the project to construction is also not eligible for funding from the grant, Quinlan-Paskus said.

Rabbideau said that with the two mile radius, creating projects at three or four of the city schools would cover the whole city.

Rabbideau said that one concern that could be addressed with the grant is the lack of sidewalks to the west of Thunder Bay Junior High along Third Avenue. That way, the district does not have to rely on the realization of the 3rd Avenue extension project that is currently on hold.

Rabbideau also mentioned building crosswalks and signals at Sanborn and Hinks elementaries since both lie on busy U.S.-23. Crosswalks and sidewalks at Lincoln Elementary are another possibility.

Quinlan-Paskus’ help through the application process would come at no cost to APS, but the engineering aspects of the application will need to be done through Michigan State University Extension at a cost of $3,000 per school.

APS would have to work with the Alpena County Road Commission and the City of Alpena throughout the process. City Manager Rachel Smolinski attended the board meeting to say that the City is willing to partner with APS in applying for the grant.

IN OTHER BUSINESS

*Rabbideau discussed signing a four year contract with Rehmann for employee engagement surveys. The contract would be for $39,000 to administer two Q12 surveys in a four year span.

*Rabbideau updated the board on the work being done to improve teacher clarity. Teams or APS staff have been organized to observe teachers in their classrooms and have high quality conversations about the effectiveness of their instruction.

*Assistant Superintendent Stacy Moors presented an update on data collection through the Synergy Student Information System. The goal is to standardize behavioral reporting across the district for consistent data collection.

Reagan Voetberg can be reached at 989-358-5683 or rvoetberg@TheAlpenaNews.com.