Extra deputies will be patrolling school zones across Montgomery County beginning Thursday after the Sheriff's Office launched Operation Safe Start, a back-to-school enforcement push timed to the first day of classes for three local districts.
New Caney ISD opens Thursday, Aug. 6, making it the first district to test the heightened patrols. Conroe ISD and Montgomery ISD students, including those at The Woodlands High School and College Park High School, return Wednesday, Aug. 12.
The Montgomery County Sheriff's Office said deputies will maintain an increased presence and heightened patrols in school zones countywide, according to the agency's announcement shared on social media. The MCSO said the goal is helping students get to and from school safely as traffic patterns shift with the fall semester, Click2Houston reported Tuesday, Aug. 4.
What drivers need to know
The Sheriff's Office is asking motorists to:
- Plan for longer morning and afternoon commutes as school buses return to routes.
- Obey posted speed limits in school zones.
- Watch for children walking to and from school.
- Stop for flashing red lights on school buses picking up or dropping off students.
Drivers who haven't adjusted to school-year traffic since May should expect congestion near campus entrances and bus stops beginning Thursday along New Caney ISD routes, and the following week near Woodlands-area schools.
Pizza with Police event Friday, Aug. 7
Residents who want to talk school-zone safety face-to-face with deputies can attend a "Pizza with Police" event Friday, Aug. 7, at Mod Pizza, 6777 Woodlands Pkwy., Suite 314, according to The Woodlands Township's event calendar. The event is billed as a chance to get safety tips and have conversations with MCSO ahead of the Conroe ISD start date.
The Sheriff's Office has not said how many additional deputies are being deployed, which specific school zones will see extra patrols, or how long Operation Safe Start will last. CW39 Houston reported the program Monday, Aug. 3.
School starts soon. Conroe ISD's new school year also brings an e-bike ban on all campuses, announced July 28, adding another safety consideration for parents and students as the semester begins.
