Safe Routes at Kentfield and
Ross School Districts

Neighborhood Program Lauched at Kentfield Schools

Bacich walking school bus

Kentfield School District is introducing a new program to encourage its parents to choose a Green Ways to School. By adding neighborhood organizers to the mix, Kentfield Schools hope to create long lasting SchoolPool networks for their parents that can last throughout the school year and beyond.

The Kentfield Safe Routes to Schools Task Force has developed a system in which they have divided the district into six neighborhoods and assigned each program a captain. These captains will then be provided the contact information for everyone in their neighborhood. Volunteer Marnie Ganong created the initial neighborhood maps using Google Maps. The schools IT specialist, using free on-line mapping was able to take these maps and translate the coding into the school database allowing him to identify those who were within each neighborhood. Captains then contact those in their neighborhood and will then assist their neighbors in establishing SchoolPool networks to walk, bike or carpool together. The program also designates drop off lots and park and walk locations for those who live too far to walk or bike. Volunteer parent Heather McPhail Sridharan will help the Captains organize their neighbors. Assistant Bacich Principal William Cameron is making sure the program is fully institutionalized within the school by presenting to all the parents. This ground breaking program could be the future for other schools in Marin. View the Maps and tools at the Bacich School Site.

Bacich Wins Green Ways to School Award

Bacich School won the 2011 Program Achievement Award for increasing green trips by 21% since joining the program in 2001. Congratulations to current team leader Amy Jones and all the team at Bacich over the years for outstanding achievement.