Parents concerned for safety as UCPS slashes traffic director positions

WAXHAW, N.C. — Union County Public Schools just cut over a dozen traffic director positions in the district. Now, only eight of those jobs remain out of 52 schools.

Parents in Waxhaw told Channel 9’s Gina Esposito that only makes them more concerned with all of the traffic in the area.

“The traffic is crazy,” said Brittany Smith.

Smith has a son starting in fourth grade at Waxhaw Elementary School in a few weeks, and she’s concerned about the school district’s decision to eliminate the traffic director position. She lives a mile from the school, but she says with traffic, the morning drop-off can take 30 minutes.

“Now I can’t imagine how long it’s going to take, so I told my son he’s just got to have to get on the bus at 6:30 in the morning,” Smith said.

UCPS says it decided to eliminate the role at 13 schools due to a budget decrease. In a statement, the district said, “We are confident that these changes will not compromise student safety.”

“I don’t envy the people making the decisions or the parents being affected by it,” said Brice Griffin, a neighbor in the area.

Griffin says the traffic director not only helps students cross the street, but also helps keep traffic flowing in all directions. With no one there, the district says “right-turn only” signs will be in place at most of the schools impacted.

When parents turn right out of the school, they will hit the intersection at Highway 75 and Old Providence Road.

Parents asked Esposito if Waxhaw police will continue to have an officer here directing traffic. We learned an officer will be at the school from 7-8 a.m. when school is in session.

A roundabout is planned for the area and could help the traffic, but the North Carolina Department of Transportation says the project isn’t being advertised for bids until April of 2028.

Last week at a Waxhaw Town Council meeting, members said they also have safety concerns, particularly about the pedestrian traffic in the crosswalk.

And the Waxhaw Police Department said it’s not safe to have a school resource officer also directing traffic.

A decision was made to request a meeting with UCPS. Smith hopes changes can be made for the safety of the students.

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