Tonight’s meeting discussing the concerns for proper crosswalks ended with the conclusion of an “80 percent likely chance” of a HAWK Beacon to be constructed in front of SCHS, according to Traffic Engineer Steve Fitzsimons.

Led by Fitzsimons, the meeting’s slideshow presentation explained the need of enhancing the school crosswalks, being the sites of high pedestrian volumes with 35 reported collisions in the last six years.

Attended by SCHS parents, the PTA, school board members, as well as a few students, the meeting filled the admin conference room, moved from the original location of the theater, with around 20 people.

Two of the attendees were Erin Kennedy and Anna Chin, parents of incoming SCHS freshmen.

“We’re here to see if we can get better routes for our kids when they bike [to school],” said Kennedy.

Kim Bettencourt, parent and PTA member, said that PTA Vice President Anna Welsh had contacted the city “at least four times this school year” for better walkways for students.

This meeting proposed installing the HAWK, short for High-Intensity Activation Crosswalk, Beacon, which will act as a pseudo traffic light in better controlling the flow of pedestrians and vehicles. The HAWK Beacon is not a true traffic light as it has no green light, but rather will serve to only stop vehicles with its red and yellow lights when its button is pressed by a pedestrian.

Principal Gregory Shelby called the HAWK Beacon a “huge step forward” if they are installed.

The presentation showed that bids for the construction will be advertised in August 2016, and that the HAWK Beacon is planned to be installed in Spring 2017.