Safety is the number one priority at Byron-Bergen Central Schools. With this in mind, the Elementary Safety Team, which includes teachers, support staff, administration, and the School Resource Officer, has released a new procedure to increase student safety at dismissal.

“The new dismissal plan ensures that all students can be accounted for at all times,” said Elementary School Assistant Principal Betsy Brown. “The reorganized sign out process will streamline student pick-ups while increasing security.”

All parents or guardians picking up students during regular dismissal times, from 3:15 to 3:30 p.m., will park in the north parking lot and enter the school through the back door. As shown in Figure 1, parents will then proceed to the cafeteria through Door #3 where they can sign out their student and be presented with a laminated dismissal pass. The dismissal pass must be presented to the staff member at Door #2 before exiting. Students will not be allowed to leave the cafeteria with any adult who does not have a dismissal pass. Parents or guardians will exit the cafeteria with their students through Door #2 and continue out to the parking lot.

The updated  timeline is as follows:

2:55 p.m. – Early dismissal pick-ups in the main office end
3:00 p.m. – Back doors are open for arrival of parents and guardians
3:15 p.m. – Students are dismissed from their classrooms to the cafeteria
3:30 p.m. – Students who have not been picked up in the cafeteria will be escorted to the main office to wait for their ride

Students riding the bus will be escorted to the bus loop at 3:25 p.m. Staff will ensure that all students board the buses. Parents and guardians will not be permitted to take students from the bus loop.

“Every day we have students riding buses, getting picked up, and attending after school programs,” said Elementary School Principal Brian Meister. “Every day is different. We have developed this new procedure with the safety of all of our students foremost in our minds, and we thank our students’ families for participating fully.”