As a parent who dropped her child off every morning and picked her up every afternoon from Gardiners Avenue School for six years, I would like to argue the following:

1. Aug. 4 article: "Dr. Herman Sirois, "...noted that there is a lot more traffic now than there was even five years ago..."

On Gardiner's Avenue, maybe, but not dropping off children in front of the school as we've had substantially increased bus service this past year. Children as close as 1/4 of a mile now get bused. Just ask the crossing guards, Gerri and Maureen, and they will tell you how it's like a ghost town up there. Now, instead of hoardes of parents dropping their children off, buses are dropping the students off, thus significantly reducing the number of cars in front of the school.

2. Aug. 11 article: "...the school district was hoping to address...people who are dropping off and picking up their children double park, thus creating a vision impediment for any children trying to cross."

We have two wonderful crossing guards (Maureen and Gerri) at two locations in front of that school! The children do cross at the corners under the supervision of these crossing guards. I can't recall (in six years) ever seeing a child cross alone other than at the corners under the watchful eye of these two wonderful crossing guards.

As an aside, and where did the money come from for all this new busing this past year? I've been a parent of children in that school for 28 years and it took until now to get funds for busing?! Suddenly, they're aware of a traffic "problem"? Hmm.....

Mary Ellen Orchard