MATTHEWS, N.C. — Antioch Elementary School is using available school funds to hire a traffic director for morning drop-off along Antioch Church Road for the upcoming school year.
The decision comes after Union County Public Schools eliminated traffic director positions across 13 schools due to budget shortfalls.
Parents received an email from the school principal on Saturday announcing that a traffic director will be stationed outside the school during morning drop-off.
The position had previously been cut by the district as part of broader systemwide budget reductions.
Meredith Elder, a parent with children in fourth and second grade at Antioch Elementary, said she was initially troubled when learning the district had cut the role.
“Learning that the position was eliminated was kind of shocking,” Elder said. She expressed relief after receiving the principal’s announcement. “I’m glad that our school is able to have this traffic director,” Elder said.
Alicia Sontag, who has a daughter at Antioch Elementary, noted heavy traffic conditions in the area.
The traffic situation is further impacted by Union Day School, which is located minutes away and will share a similar start time this year.
Sontag welcomed the morning drop-off coverage while calling for lasting measures.
“I’m glad we have a solution for the morning. I just hope it’s long-term and that it’s a permanent solution. Not just a band-aid for the beginning of the school year when everything is crazy,” Sontag said.
Union County Public Schools officials stated they are unaware of any other schools in the district using their own funds to replace a traffic director position eliminated by the budget cuts.
School starts on Monday. District officials said they will monitor traffic around the school and make adjustments if needed in the coming weeks.
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