The Cumberland County Board of Education Building and Grounds Committee met yesterday and discussed the school zone on Highway 127 in front of North Cumberland Elementary School. County Commissioner Mark Baldwin got numerous names on a petition after a student resource officer was recently struck twice in this school zone by vehicles in separate incidents. However, TDOT has informed the school system the only option they will approve at this time is the installation of school zone flashing signs on both ends of the zone on Highway 127. The school system has two of these signs ready and a work order has been put in to Volunteer Electric to drill the holes for the flashing sign poles. All other options were denied by TDOT because of the pending widening of the highway.

“We have to do something to ensure the safety of our student resource officer at that school zone,” said School Board Chairwoman Teresa Boston.

The committee agreed some drivers going into the school zone are distracted, speeding or just not paying attention to what they are doing.

One option suggested to the committee yesterday at the meeting by 105.7 News is to request a Tennessee Highway Patrol officer to stage next to the school zone before and after school since it is a state highway. The committee will contact the highway patrol office to see if this can be done.