Parents concerned over increased traffic near Parma schools

PARMA, Ohio - Parma parents are concerned for student safety because of heavy traffic when schools dismiss.

"It's a mess," said parent Tammie Sebastian. "It's a mess."

The parents, who attended Monday's Parma School Board meeting, said there are more kids in the schools because of the consolidation of the district. 

However, Richard Vanek, the director of safety and security, said there are just more parents driving their kids to school now for safety reasons and there's "not enough space to accommodate all the vehicles."

Vanek said each building is being assessed and adjustments are being made.

"We're working with the cities," he said. "There are more patrols out. We have changed some traffic patterns."

But parent Tracy Clark Mora is still concerned, especially about the students who ride their bikes to school. She took pictures of some of them weaving in and out of the traffic last Friday. 

"One of them will get hit eventually and then we're going to be very sorry that we didn't take preventative action to prevent this," she said.