JEFFERSON CITY, MO -- We have received a number of e-mails and calls from viewers concerned about students walking to school on snow-covered sidewalks.
They worry students could fall, or even slip into on-coming traffic.
KRCG's Fact Finder Team met with officials from Jefferson City Public Schools Monday to learn what should be done to fix the problem.
Concerned viewers are worried students at West Elementary School could get hurt by walking on snow-covered sidewalks on Main Street.
"Children do not pay attention to where they're going and what's around them. Sometimes when they walk home, they play in the snow, and I can see how someone easily could slip and fall into the path of a car,” Concerned Parent Mindy Hovis said.
A spokesman for the district said officials are aware of the sidewalk problem and they are asking the community to help with it.
"We ask that the community pitch in where they possibly can. If they're sidewalks that haven't been cleaned in front of your home, we would ask that you try to get a single path for those kids to get to school,” Spokesman for Jefferson City Public Schools David Luther said. “That would be certainly helpful."
Luther said parents should sit down with their children and talk with them about walking safely to school.
"If a parent is concerned they can certainly call us, and if we can give them some assistance, we will. We ask parents to speak to their kids about being safe,” Luther said. “You know walking towards traffic instead of walking with traffic and things like that."
The school district cannot force property owners to clean off their sidewalks for students.
But they ask home owners to do so.
We want to know how the sidewalks are by your schools. Please tell us.
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