Mishawaka agencies, schools come together to spread message of safety

MISHAWAKA, Ind. -- Today in Mishawaka, several city agencies—like police and fire—worked with School City of Mishawaka to spread a message of safety as kids head back to the classroom. The program is dubbed ‘Cool Your Engines,’ and its been around in Mishawaka for over a decade, according to police. They are urging people to slow down and pay attention as school is back in session.

Dr. Theodore Stevens says, because Mishawaka doesn’t bus its students, many kids in the district walk to neighborhood schools.

Crossing guards are strategically stationed to help kids get there safely. Additionally, school resource officers are in every building and help spread awareness of safety in school zones.

“I never want to sort of paint the picture that's perfect, because sometimes there's still accidents that happen, but that's where that education, that awareness piece, and the assistance from kids and from drivers in the community is really sort of that missing key that we have to have,” said Stevens.

Steven says both principals and teachers within the district put a big emphasis on safety and ‘stranger danger’.

Mishawaka Police say they have a good working relationship with schools and their SRO’s and they work together if there are any safety concerns.

Uniform Division Chief Craig Nowacki with Mishawaka Police says they prioritize patrolling school zones throughout the city during the school year to help keep kids safe.

“It's just so many people, so many cars. And with Mishawaka not having a high school bus count, where we are doing Transpo and you're getting dropped off, we have a ton of cars that are in the area for the grade schools and for the middle and high school,” said Nowacki.

Nowacki says phone usage is one of the most common driving dangers they see. He says just a couple of seconds of distraction can lead to issues.

“That is enough to have somebody stop in front of you. You not seeing another kid crossing the street. You have to be watching what you're doing at all times, but especially in those school zones,” said Nowacki.

Megan Troeger has been a crossing guard for over three years. She says kids should cross with a crossing guard as much as they can, look both ways, and always be aware of their surroundings.

“I think the biggest thing is, especially in your elementary school zones, is kids are not paying attention to what's going on around them. They can jet out into traffic at any point in time,” said Troeger.