Panther Valley Elementary School is making a few necessary changes to its dismissal plan.

Last Wednesday, Robert Palazzo, elementary school principal, approached Nesquehoning Borough Council about the changes and asked to borrow a barrier to help complete their plan. School for the district begins on Sept. 8.

He said that the traffic plan during the pandemic for dismissal will now include blocking off the front parking lot daily and dismissing walkers and car riders from the gym exit, rather than the main entrance.

In previous years, parents picking up children from school gathered outside the front of the building at the end of the day, but due to the pandemic, Palazzo said the school needs to spread parents out away from the bus riding students.

Bus students will continue to exit through the main entrance and head onto their buses.

Council member Rosemary Porembo asked if the district knows if there will be more car riders this year than bus riders.

Palazzo said the elementary school will have 40 percent of its students going online to start out the school year, but the majority of parents who are sending their children said they will continue to utilize bus service so he doesn’t anticipate an influx of cars.

Council said that they will have additional police presence at the school for the first few days until they can determine a pattern and to make sure things run smoothly.

Council also wished Palazzo the best with implementing the plan and said they will help as best they can.

Councilman Frank Jacobs reminded people going to and leaving the school that Willow Street has a speed limit of 15 mph. He noted that in the past, that road has been used heavily and added there has been a lot of speeding.

In a related matter, the borough is looking for another crossing guard to help during the school year.

The guard, Mayor Sam Kitchko said, would be posted at Coal and Mermon streets.