Cullman City School officials are once again looking at options to better control the increased traffic in and around the East Elementary School campus — though their ideal scenario has essentially been taken off the table.

The school board recently asked the city to surplus the streets in front of and behind the main school building — 4th Ave. SE between 6th St. SE and 7th St. SE, and 5th Ave. SE between 6th St. SE and 7th St. SE — but withdrew the requests once it became clear they would likely be denied. The streets separate the main school house from the playground and a fifth and sixth grade classroom building.

School board member Steve Sides noted the requests were also twofold, as the campus is landlocked in that area and the property on the street could eventually be used for future expansion.

“Our secondary concern is student population because we’re almost to the point of bursting at the seams,” he said.

The city planning commission had several problems with the concept, the brunt of which revolved around Cullman Fire Rescue’s comments that closing both those streets would “hamper” the department’s ability to suppress or combat a potential fire at the campus. A gas main is also under 5th Ave. SE, and the water department and power board would still require access for infrastructure needs — which officials say makes it impractical to close the street.

The school board made a similar push in 2009 that was rejected for the same reasons.

The school system’s current solution is to use plastic gates to close the streets during school hours because students are required to cross for classes in different buildings and to reach the playground, but principal David Wiggins said cars often push through the gates creating a hazard for children and staff.

“It does happen at times when we have children out there crossing the street, and I’ve given foot chase before,” he said. “It is a great concern for us. We have a lot of students crossing for lunch, several grades, and students coming from the fifth and sixth grade building.”

Following some discussion with the planning commission, the school board withdrew the requests to surplus the roads and will consider retooling their proposal to focus on adding heavy duty gates that can be opened and closed around school hours — an option planning commission members said would be more likely to succeed.

With the surplus option a no-go, Sides said the school board would begin looking at other options, such as a heavier gate system, that might be used to more effectively control traffic.

“What we have has proven to be inadequate so we’ll continue to work toward a way to better secure our campuses,” he said.

Some local residents who live near the school are vocally opposed to the streets being permanently closed due to the already-heavy traffic load in the neighborhood, and noted they often use those avenues during the off hours.

“Traffic is already a nightmare and we do use that road,” Scott Edmondson said. “Because if you take that traffic from there you’ll have to redistribute it, and I don’t see how this will help in any way.”

Seth Thompson said he would worry parking might also overflow into the neighborhood, if the spots available on the street were rendered unusable.

“Traffic is abominable already,” he said. “I’m not against progress for the city school system, but this isn’t getting at the heart of the problem.”

Traffic is abominable already. I’m not against progress for the city school system, but this isn’t getting at the heart of the problem.