I have lived in Woodbridge since the 1970s.  Both my children attend Ross Street elementary school.  They have both flourished there.  Until recently, I haven't had any major complaints.  Once our school was selected to recieve a brand new playground the chaos ensued.  

Parking in front of the school to pick up our children is prohibited due to it being a fire zone.  Parking in the Ross street parking lot is not an option either since it is designated for school employees only (strictly enforced by the principal and bright orange cones).  Parents have no option but to search for parking behind the school in the empty Board of Ed spots. On rare occasions you may luck out and get a parking spot in the municipal lot.  I say rare occasion because the municipal lot is also used by all of the patrons from Main Street and surrounding businesses so it is unlikely you can find a parking spot during pick-up time. 

Since our school received a new playground our pick-up location has been changed from the safely fenced-in playground to the back of our school adjacent to the Board Of Ed parking lot.  This is outrageous!  It is so congested during pick-up that parents have no place to stand.  In addition to that, our children are forced out small doors and have to stand on a small platform hoping to catch their parents attention in order to be released.  The children are at risk of being trampled or even falling off the steps.  Many times the parents simply can not see their children nor do they have a safe place to stand. The majority of standing room is actually mud that when wet becomes extremely slippery.  I fear parents and grandparents as well as siblings to the Ross Street students could possibly fall and get seriously hurt.  

Many parents have complained to the Board of Ed as well as to our Principal.  We have either not received returned calls or worse yet received seemingly ridiculous excuses as to why the pick-up location was changed.  The real reason, in my opinion, is because our principal does not want our children near the new playground and possibly linger too long after school.  Even though, that playground does not belong to the school. In fact, as a Woodbridge resident, we are entitled to use it since we paid for it!

Since parents have continued to complain our principal devised a solution.  She now uses blockades to close off the Board Of Ed parking lot. She mentioned that she believes it would alleviate the congestion and worry about the children being run over by cars.  She comes out of the school 15 or so minutes before the release of the children and brings her cones to block off the parking lot.  She remains there until all the the children have been picked up.  I question how she is being a proper principal to our children when she is busy directing traffic.  God forbid her assistance is required inside the school, she would not be available.  

This solution has done absolutely nothing except close off a majority of our parking option.  Many parents and grandparents that come to pick up their children are left with nowhere to park. Some of them have small children with them and are forced to park blocks away and walk (sometimes in the cold or rain). The children are still being placed in an unsafe and uncomfortable situation as are the parents and guardians. 

Somebody needs to hear our complaints and do something.