Dutchess County Officials Encourage Respect & Kindness as New School Year Starts

County Executive, Sheriff Emphasize Compassion in Schools and on Roads; Remind Drivers to Follow School Bus Traffic Laws

With a new school year beginning next week, Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino and Sheriff Kirk Imperati ask the community to please put kindness, respect and safety first, in schools and on the roads. The leaders encourage parents, teachers, classmates and drivers alike to do their part in creating safe spaces for children, whether inside classrooms or traveling to and from school.

Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said, “Beginning a new school year is always filled with excitement and possibility. By leading with kindness, we can help create classrooms where every student feel respected, appreciated and prepared to learn. When we show care for one another, we give students the confidence to learn, grow, and reach their full potential.”

County Executive Serino said respect is the foundation of a healthy learning environment. She stated when parents, teachers, staff and fellow students treat each other with compassion and dignity, schools become communities that foster growth, achievement and positive experiences for all.

Sheriff Imperati encourages drivers to carry that same respect onto the roadways. With schools reopening, he reminded motorists that slowing down and using extra caution is critical, especially during drop-off and dismissal times.

Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati said, “As children are walking, biking and boarding/unboarding buses to get to and from school, all drivers need to stay alert and follow the rules of the road. Please slow down in school zones, listen to crossing guards and never pass a school bus with its red lights flashing. Protecting students’ safety is a responsibility we all share.”

Drivers are asked to build extra time into their commutes so they can safely stop for buses. New York State law requires all vehicles to stop for school buses that have flashing red lights, including on divided highways such as Routes 9, 44 and 55 in Poughkeepsie.  Those who ignore school bus stop signs and flashing red lights risk tickets and fines as buses throughout the County are now equipped with stop-arm cameras to catch violators through a partnership with BusPatrol LLC; 11 of the 13 school districts within Dutchess County are participating in the program.

Beyond road safety, the County Executive and Sheriff reaffirmed their dedication to maintaining safe and supportive environments in partnership with local school districts.

Sheriff Imperati said, “Nothing is more important than the safety of our students. Our School Resource Officers, who are trained in prevention, de-escalation and intervention, are once again returning to local schools this year to provide guidance and protection.”