LAKEPORT >> Nearly 1,000 Lakeport Unified School District (LUSD) students, teachers, staff, and community members made their way to school on foot Wednesday morning to participate in National Walk to School Day.
From Lakeport Elementary kindergarteners to Clear Lake High School seniors, students were accompanied by adults, including some parents throughout the half-mile walk. The event began with parents and school buses dropping students off at the High Street Village Shopping Center around 7:45 a.m. Once a large group was lined up with teachers and staff, the first round of students headed to the school campuses. The last round of students walked, some skipped with excitement, to school by 8:30 a.m.
The route traveled north on North High Street, then east on Lakeshore Boulevard, then north on Giselman Street, followed by a cross at Lange Street to arrive onto campuses. To ensure safety for both those that walked and motorists, the Lakeport Public Works Department was present through and around the streets. A traffic safety advisory was sent out days prior, warning drivers to use alternate routes or wait until closures were no longer active. The Lakeport Police Department led each group with cars, while the California Highway Patrol remained in the back to protect walkers from each end.
Also present was the Lakeport Fire Department. Fire Chief Hutchinson said, “People can trip and fall when walking in large groups. We’re just here to standby in case anybody had any issues while they walk to school.”
The LPD and the LUSD Wellness Committee worked together to make sure local students partook in the country-wide event.
LUSD Superintendent April Leiferman said, “As part of our Wellness Committee, we wanted to get more involved in being healthy. There was a lot of planning behind this for several months and you can see all those that came out to support. It’s really been a nice, joint-community event and the kids love it.”
More than 5,200 events around the country took place to celebrate the movement — some even held a stretch-and-dance warm-up session before the walk. LUSD had the Clear Lake High School marching band lead the way with music and participants were welcomed on campus with a light, healthy breakfast.
According to research conducted by Active Living Research, 13% of students around the U.S. walk or bike to school, compared to 48% in 1969. The drop in numbers, the study found, was due to traffic speed and volume, and a lack of sidewalks. When some cities improved safer routes to school, a 45-percent increase in walking was observed.
Leiferman said yesterday’s event was so that students can get an idea of walking in groups, a much safer technique for students.
She added that the Wellness Committee is planning more events in the spring to continue the promotion of movement among students.
