Figueroa Elementary Marks Safe Route Along ‘Yellow Brick Road’
Figueroa Street Elementary School, situated in a high-crime area of South-Central Los Angeles, established a “Yellow Brick Road Program” Friday designed to provide safe passage for students walking to and from the school.
Yellow markers now trace the best paths for students to follow between the school and their neighborhoods. Several nearby merchants have also joined the effort, and stickers will be posted in windows identifying their establishments as “safe houses” where frightened, lost or hurt students can go for help.
“We are trying to create a safe school zone,” said Figueroa Principal Rosemary Lucente. “We know that psychologically, students need to feel safe to learn.”
Mayor Richard Riordan joined an assembly launching the program as did former Figueroa teacher Alfredo Perez, who was struck in the head by a stray bullet two years ago while teaching a class in the school library.
“Everyone gave [Perez] a standing ovation,” Lucente said. “The students were so happy to see him again.”
Start your day right
Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
