Without Sidewalks, Tenoroc High Students Left to Fend Off Traffic by Themselves

LAKELAND | Students at the new Tenoroc High School have a spacious courtyard, beautiful brick buildings and classes with videos and sound systems.

What they don't have is a sidewalk on a narrow portion of Saddle Creek Road east of the school.

Each school day, about a dozen students walk down Saddle Creek Road on a small portion of cut grass between knee-high weeds, speeding cars and big rigs.

No one has been injured, but vehicles pass within three feet of students.

"It's dangerous," said walker Amber Pagoria, 15.

"They drive so close you can reach out and touch them."

Bicylist Mark Orr, 15, said the proximity of the vehicles didn't bother him, but it "would be better if there were a sidewalk."

"It's not right," said Marilyn Noon, a Lakeland resident who drives to work on Saddle Creek Road.

"If a truck has a blowout, no one would survive walking on that road."

If the situation doesn't improve, students may be allowed to ride buses even if they live within two miles, which is the cutoff point for bus riders, Polk County school district officials said.

"It worries me," said Principal Ernest Joe, who called district officials in August after receiving about a dozen calls from parents. "The bottom line is safety's first."

The most dangerous area is along Saddle Creek Road east of the school.

Tenoroc has several hundred feet of sidewalk, but it ends at the edge of the school property and students must walk down a narrow grassy path.

Bob Williams, assistant superintendent of facilities and operations, said he asked county officials to install sidewalks before the school, which opened last month, was built. He said he was told the county didn't have enough money.

Laurie Hayes, capital projects manager for transportation engineering, said she was unaware of a request for a sidewalk in the area.

Hayes said the county recently completed a study on an additional sidewalk and pedestrian bridge west of the school toward Fish Hatchery Road but has not yet surveyed the area east of the school toward Dixie Highway. "We will take a look at the east side within the next several weeks," Hayes said.

Also in several weeks, district officials will tell students if there will be enough room on buses to allow students within two miles to ride.

But no new bus stops would be created, and students would be required to go outside the two-mile radius for a bus ride.

"If there are 50 kids on the bus, there's no room," said Fred Murphy, assistant superintendent of support services. "We want to be as sympathetic as we can, but state law only provides transportation for those who live more than two miles from the school." There are exceptions, but only for elementary schools.

Students at Winston Elementary were eligible for "hazardous walking transportation" before a walking bridge was built over Interstate 4, Murphy said.

County transportation officials have taken measures to help, including reducing the speed limit from 55 mph to 45 mph on Saddle Creek Road and placing flashing lights near the entrance of the school.

In addition, a gate was recently built in the rear of the school for students who had been jumping the fence so they did not have to enter the school on the busy road.

Joe said he thinks the problem eventually will be fixed. "We'll take care of the children."

[ John Chambliss can be reached at john.chambliss@theledger.com or 863-802-7588. ]