PORT ORANGE, Fla. — As the start of the school year grows closer, cities across Volusia County have been working to ensure safety in schools.

What You Need To Know

  • Port Orange leaders have implemented a series of safety measures outside several schools, including Sugar Mill Elementary, following an accident where a fourth-grade student was struck and killed by a driver

  • As part of the new safety improvements, they have added "No Parking" signs west of the parent entrance, new pedestrian crossing signs, speed bumps, and speed-limit signs

  • Port Orange Police Traffic Unit Sgt. Gregory Gaver said the biggest change is focused on the deployment of traffic control officers

  • When students go back to school on Aug. 12, a total of seven motor officers will be at their assigned schools no later than 7 a.m., even before the gates open

In Port Orange, leaders have implemented a series of safety measures outside several schools.

Tragedy rocked the Port Orange community when a fourth-grade student was struck and killed by a driver exiting Sugar Mill Elementary on May 24.

Related Story: After 4th-grader killed, Sugar Mill Elementary School parents start petition demanding more police presence at schools

Since then, city and county leaders have worked with the school district and the Volusia County Sheriff's Office to enhance safety in the area.

Port Orange Police Traffic Unit Sgt. Gregory Gaver said the biggest change is focused on the deployment of traffic control officers.

“That's our ultimate goal, to get everybody to school safe and then be able to go to the next school zone in time,” Gaver said.

When students go back to school on Aug. 12, a total of seven motor officers will be at their assigned schools no later than 7 a.m., even before the gates open.

“Normally we have one officer assigned to each elementary the first two weeks of school," Gaver said. "However, because of two schools in particular, had some major changes, we will be doubled up at those two elementary schools."

Sugar Mill Elementary will be one of the two schools where they will be doubling up.

As part of the new safety improvements, "No Parking" signs have been installed west of the parent entrance, along with new pedestrian crossing signs, speed bumps, and speed-limit signs.

The city also hired additional community service officers who will help direct traffic in and out of the school.

“And because of the new construction behind the school with the development at McDonald and Madeline, there's a new traffic circle that also went in, which will be the first traffic circle in the city,” Gaver said.

Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette said the city is making sure school safety remains a priority with police presence at all the schools that reside within the city.

“We've committed to being able to do that at all of our elementary schools," Burnette said. "And we want to be able to make sure that we have a presence in every school zone, every day, morning and afternoon."

Gaver said drivers need to slow down and be mindful of the speed limits, adding the formula to keep everyone safe is simple.

“And it's really just patience,"he said. "Pay attention and be courteous to others. Speeding is the number one violation we get.”

Burnette said ensuring the safety of the students is a team effort.

“Leave a little earlier if you have to, to make sure that you're not stressed in traffic and particularly the first couple of weeks, while everybody is figuring out the new routine for the new school year,” he said.