Ladies, gentleman: stop your engines

BY NANCY KELLY

Kings County Register

As a reflection of it’s commitment to fostering a healthy environment for students, the Annapolis Valley Regional School Board (AVRSB) has approved a policy to reduce vehicle idling on school property.

The new policy, approved by unanimous vote at the February 6 meeting of the board, had been under consideration since last year, when board members were approached by students about the issue. “The kids really led the way on this issue,” says AVRSB superintendent of schools Dr. Norm Dray. “They asked us to look at devising a board-wide policy that would raise awareness of the negative environmental effects of idling by encouraging drivers not to idle on school property.”

While several schools in the AVRSB system had previously made their properties no-idling zones, the new policy will now apply to all schools.

Effective immediately, drivers are requested to refrain from idling vehicles at all of the AVRSB’s schools. While the new policy has no enforcement mechanism associated with it, Dray says the board will be relying “on the goodwill of the public” to make the initiative a success.

Signs alerting drivers to the no-idling policy are currently in production and will be erected at all schools in the near future.