Woodside School District

The landscape of student transportation has evolved significantly over the past few years, with many more students arriving at school using various electric-powered devices.  After careful consideration and consultation with safety experts, we've developed comprehensive guidelines to accommodate these changes while maintaining our commitment to campus safety.

Superintendent Frank had meaningful conversations with each of our 5th-8th grade classes about these critical updates.  Students were engaged and asked thoughtful questions about the new policies.  Here are the detailed guidelines we discussed:

• New Dedicated E-Transportation Area:  Through the outstanding efforts of our amazing Maintenance Supervisor, Eucadio Martinez, we have installed specialized bike racks designed explicitly for motorized transportation devices. These new racks are located behind the music room, and students were instructed to park their motorized transportation devices in these new bike racks.  They should not be housed anywhere else on campus.    
• Traditional Bike Storage Continues:  All non-motorized, traditional pedal bicycles and manual scooters will continue to be housed in our existing bike racks outside the art room.
• After-Hours Access Guidelines:  Students may use their traditional, non-motorized bicycles and scooters after 4:00 PM on weekdays and anytime during weekends, but ONLY on the designated blacktop areas.  Riding through hallways, near classroom buildings, or on the fields is strictly prohibited for safety reasons.
• Motorized Device Restrictions:  For the safety of our younger students and to protect our facilities, motorized transportation devices (including e-bikes, electric scooters, skateboards, OneWheels, remote control cars, and similar items) are not permitted within the interior campus boundaries at any time. This policy has been established after several near-miss incidents involving younger children and concerns about potential damage to our facilities.

We recognize that these changes represent an adaptation to evolving technology while balancing our primary commitment to campus safety.  Our staff will be helping students adjust to these new guidelines over the coming weeks. If you have any questions about where your child should park their transportation device, please don't hesitate to contact our front office for clarification.

Many of our Upper School students ride their bikes to school, and recently we have noticed an uptick in electric bikes, scooters, and electric pocket motorcycles. Students are allowed to use any mode of transportation to get to school that your family deems appropriate in compliance with state laws. As a reminder, in California, anyone aged 18 and under operating a bicycle, scooter or skateboard, or using roller skates must legally wear a bicycle helmet. When students get to campus, there are specific rules that must be followed for the safety of all students. If your child bikes or scooters to school, please review these rules carefully with them:

• All bikes and scooters must be walked across crosswalks and on campus
• Bikes and scooters, including e-bikes, must be parked in the bike rack area only. Nothing should be parked in the hallways.
• Riding of e-bikes, e-scooters, and skateboards are not allowed on campus at any time, including before or after school. Non-motorized bikes and scooters can be ridden after 4pm on the asphalt at the back of campus. 

We all value our amazing campus and the resources that it has to offer, and we appreciate your support in upholding these rules so that all students, families, and staff members are safe here. Thank you for your partnership!