Willow Lane Parents Praise School Staff on Facebook

Willow Lane parents involved in the Facebook group Protect the H.A.W.K., expressed their gratitude to the staff at Willow Lane Elementary School for the way they have been handling drop-off and pick-up time at Willow Lane since the start of the school year.
 

Willow Lane made the much-talked about leap to a "walking school" this year under the scrutiny of many watchful eyes. Several parents went on the record on Facebook today to thank the staff for "making the best of the situation," in the words of group member Jessica Funt Younker.


Seemingly referencing red flags raised by Willow parent Susan Coenen on Facebook Wednesday related to the safety of students walking between and around buses on the Willow Lane campus, Younker posted the following:

"I don't want to dismiss anyone's safety concerns," Younker writes, "BUT, I do want to mention how awesome the staff is in the morning during drop off time. They are making the best of the situation. Yes, we sit in the drop off line for a long time, but we are sitting in our warm dry cars. Meanwhile, they are standing outside, sometimes not in ideal weather conditions. They always have a smile and a wave. They even open and shut the car doors. They are moving the cars as quickly and efficiently as possible. This is a work in progress, kinks need to be worked out...in the meantime, I appreciate the Willow Lane Staff for doing what they do in the morning!"

Michelle Hayner Bartolomei, in a later post, writes that she is in complete agreement with Younker's assessment.

Bartolomei writes: "Everyone we have encountered walking to school, as well as those on the few mornings we've driven, have been wonderful. They are pleasant and friendly and welcoming...even when it's hot or raining. The staff truly is doing all they can to make this work as smoothly as they can."

Younker's post, which sparked a total of nine comments, garnered 35 Facebook likes, and Bartolomei's response earned five likes of its own.