New Driveway, Parking and Bus Loop at Ossining High School

One of the first things students and staff will notice when they return to Ossining High School in a few weeks is that the driveway and bus loop have been reconfigured to improve traffic flow.

Instead of having school buses drop off children in a lot off Emwilton Place, they will enter from Wolden Road into a dedicated bus lane. They will travel one way through the campus and exit onto Emwilton Place.

There is a second one-way lane just for cars. Parents and guardians can drop off students in a new parking lot next to the school. Drivers will continue in the car lane to the Emwilton side parking lot and exit onto Emwilton Place.

“It’s probably going to take a few weeks for people to get used to the new flow,” OHS Principal Stephen Hancock said.

The Ossining Police Department and school staff will be outside during the first few weeks of school to help everyone get used to the new configuration.

District officials consulted with experts on what improvements to make to improve traffic flow and safety for students and staff.

Another change this fall is all students will swipe their identification cards at kiosks to check themselves in at school. Upperclassmen who leave campus during the day will have to swipe out and back in. No one will have to swipe out to leave for the day.

The kiosks will improve safety and security for students, help track attendance and enable staff members to write important messages to students that will appear on screen when they swipe their card, Mr. Hancock said.

OHS started giving out ID cards last year. Incoming freshmen will get them during orientation. All other students will receive them during the first few days of school, he said.