Beach Middle School and South Meadows Elementary School were awarded Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) and the Michigan Fitness Foundation federal Safe Routes to School (SRTS) funding.
Beach, in partnership with the Chelsea Area Wellness Foundation, received $2,338 to encourage children to walk and bicycle to and from school daily. Participant data will be tracked with a scanner and barcode tag system, and the technology uses a scanning device and personalized barcode tag for each student, according to a press release.
It will record the total number of miles walked or biked, along with CO2 savings and calories burned.
The system also offers an option to notify parents via e-mail or text when the barcode has been scanned to let them know their students have arrived safely at school.
It’s expected that about 60 students will participate.
South Meadows, also in partnership with the Chelsea Area Wellness Foundation, received $1,916 to begin a Walking School Bus program. Trained adult volunteers will serve as Walking School Bus leaders.
Prior to the start of the program, an interactive safe streets presentation by Wayne State University’s Transportation Research Group will be used to teach pedestrian safety to students in grades three through five.
About 50 students are expected to participate.
“Safe Routes empowers schools to provide educational campaigns with proven track records,” said State Transportation Director Kirk T. Steudle in a press release.
