Johns Island Elementary is set to open next week, but not all residents are celebrating the new addition to the community. While many families are excited about the opening, others are raising concerns about the surrounding infrastructure, particularly regarding traffic and sidewalk access.
Concerns Over Traffic and Safety
Joel Ogle, a Johns Island resident, expressed concerns about how the increased traffic will affect the safety of children traveling to the school. “The roundabout is nice, but it doesn’t solve River Road, and our worry is the kids. How do they get here?” he said. Residents are worried about the safety of pedestrians, including students walking to school, and the potential for congestion on nearby roads.
Traffic Monitoring to Begin
Starting Monday, August 12, the Charleston County School District will begin monitoring traffic patterns around Moonbeam Drive and Claybrook Street, two main roads near the new school. The district aims to identify problem areas and address congestion before it becomes a long-term issue.
City Council Acknowledges Concerns
Charleston City Councilman Jim McBride acknowledged the concerns of residents, especially those who purchased homes before the school was planned. “I understand those neighborhoods… a lot of them bought their homes not knowing there would eventually be a school there,” McBride said. He also mentioned that he had raised concerns with City Council months ago about the need for traffic calming measures in the area.
Concerns About Road Safety
While a new roundabout was completed earlier this year to help improve traffic flow, some neighbors, like Ogle, feel it is insufficient. “The worry we have is that the roads—River Road and Brownswood—are very dangerous,” Ogle said. “The school buses could go into ditches. They put a school here, but they didn’t really think about how people get here.”
School Leadership’s Response
Johns Island Elementary Principal Judith Condon reassured parents that student safety is a top priority. She explained that careful thought was put into the design of how students will get to and from school, with plans to distribute videos for parents to clarify the process of using the car loop, walking on sidewalks, and crossing streets safely.
Projected Enrollment and Next Steps
Over 700 students are expected to attend Johns Island Elementary when it opens on Tuesday, August 13. To address ongoing concerns, Councilmember McBride announced plans to host a community town hall later this month to gather feedback and share updated traffic data with Johns Island residents.
While Johns Island Elementary’s opening is a cause for celebration, traffic and safety concerns from residents highlight the challenges that come with expanding infrastructure. As the school year begins, both the community and local officials will continue to work together to find solutions that ensure the safety of students and residents alike.
