Parking and Carpool Procedures

Recently, an email was sent out to the entire TIOH Community with the following letter and our parking and carpool rules and procedures. We appreciated all of the many comments and questions that came from the community and decided it was best to revise the document to make sure that it spoke to all of our many constituents. Our goal with this revision is to try and better the parking situation for all involved. Please take a moment to review this revised document. It should help to clarify the parking procedures for each constituency. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call.

Dear Congregants and Friends:

I write to appeal to all our members about a significant safety issue that affects our children and the entire Temple community. Obviously, we have a severe parking shortage at Temple Israel which, thankfully, will be alleviated once our Capital Expansion project is completed and we triple the number of parking spaces available. Currently, we have upwards of 650 children registered in our three schools (and more with Mommy, Daddy and Me families) with drop-off and pick-up occurring six days a week, morning, noon, and afternoon. If this were not enough, we also have hundreds of people attending services on Shabbat evenings and coming to Hebrew, Cantillation, and Torah study and services on Shabbat mornings. We operate at full throttle 7 days a week.

Over the past few months we have been forced to institute a number of changes in our parking lot procedures concerning on-site parking, picking-up and dropping-off of children in order to assure their safety and ensure the smooth operation of our parking lot.

These new policies are in place for all of our benefit, and we ask everyone to observe them. To be quite clear, these policies are non-negotiable and they apply to all equally in the Temple Israel community. Please review them carefully and plan accordingly when coming to the Temple. Unfortunately, not everyone has cooperated and a few have taken it upon themselves to do as they please and then behave disrespectfully to our security and Temple staff. As a consequence, we have decided that anyone who does not follow our parking and safety rules or is disrespectful to any TIOH or security employee will forfeit his/her parking privileges at Temple Israel.

We have spent many years fostering a community of menschlechkite and decency at Temple Israel. We are known and respected for the way we welcome everyone, and for how our staff and congregants treat each other ethically and with kindness. The Jewish values of shalom bayit (peace in the home), derech eretz (common decency and civility), hachnasat orcheem (welcoming all comers), and k'heelah k'doshah (a sacred community) are all central to us whether we be in the Sanctuary, the classroom, the social hall, the hallway, or the parking lot.

I thank you in advance for continuing understanding, cooperation and patience. If you have questions or concerns about our policy, please feel free to contact either our Executive Director, Toby L. Berkow, at (323) 876-8330, ext. 202 or me at any time.

B'shalom,

John L. Rosove, Rabbi

IMPORTANT CARPOOL AND PARKING INFORMATION

PLEASE READ ENTIRE DOCUMENT CAREFULLY

In addition to making carpool efficient and safe for our children, we also see this as an opportunity for parents to be positive role models by demonstrating that we truly do “live our values” even as we arrive and depart from the Temple Israel campus.

Powerful lessons are taught through the words that children hear us say within the confines of our cars, the observations that they make as we drive on the campus, and the manner we relate to security, staff and one another.

Remember that at all times you are modeling for your child and the children of others. So help us teach them that the teachers and guards assigned to each station are there for their safety and they are to be respected and listened to. Having your child observe one of them ask you to do something, and then for you to ignore them is a behavior I am sure you do not want your child to copy. Remember, our children are always watching.

In an attempt to be even more proactive, we have taken a few new steps to alleviate the traffic in the parking lot. Below outlines our parking lot rules and procedures for all days of the week. These rules pertain to everyone in the TIOH Community and there are no exceptions. Failure to comply with the TIOH Parking Lot and Carpool rules will result in having your parking lot rights revoked with more serious penalties for multiple infractions.

Section A: General Policies for Everyone regardless of day/ time:

1. No profanity or raised voices will be tolerated. Everyone should be treated with mutual respect and patience, including all staff, children and adults. If an issue arises, please bring it to the appropriate Head of School or to the Executive Director.

2. No Cell Phones in the lot – even with your headsets! This is an easy adjustment for all of you to make in order to keep everyone in our community safe.

3. Drivers are ALWAYS expected to follow the directions of Security and other TIOH Staff Members. If an issue arises, please bring it to the appropriate Head of School or to the Executive Director.

4. Do not cross Martel Ave. or Fuller Ave. in the middle of the street. For your safety as well as your child's, help them learn "to cross at the green and not in between."

5. No Speeding: Drive slowly in the parking lot, as well as on adjacent streets.

6. One space only: If you must park in the lot, please be courteous and take the time to ensure that your car is pulled between the lines and isn’t taking up two spaces.

6. Please be respectful of staff parking and no parking zones. We are not responsible for congregants that are in violation of the law.

7. If you are at TIOH during a carpool time, regardless of the reason, you may not remove your vehicle from a parking space in the lot until the carpool has completed. This is for the safety of our congregants and staff and therefore there are no exceptions. Additionally, during the following times, please proceed north on Martel and make a right-hand turn into the lot. Left turns- from Hollywood Boulevard onto Martel, from Martel into the lot, and from the lot onto Martel – won’t be allowed. For your information, carpool times are as follows:

7:45 – 8:05 a.m. Monday through Friday

12:30 – 12:45 p.m. Monday through Friday

2:30 – 3:15 p.m. Monday through Friday

6:05 – 6:35 p.m. on Wednesdays

11:55 – 12:15 p.m. on Sundays

12:25 – 12:50 p.m. on Sundays

If you are a day school family, please proceed to section B.

If you are a nursery school family, please proceed to section C.

If you are a religious school family, please proceed to section D.

Section B: Day School Families:

Drop-off times are 7:45 AM until 8:05 AM at both the Martel and Fuller gates. Pick-up times are 3:00 PM until 3:15 PM at both the Martel and Fuller gates. Please do not arrive any earlier than 5 minutes prior to these times as this increases congestion. This is especially true during pick-up time in the Martel lot because the Nursery School pick up runs from 2:30 PM until 3:15 PM. If you are parked in this line before 3:00 PM, you may be asked to go to the end of the line by the Nursery School staff.

Drop-off and Pick-Up Procedures

1. Martel lot: The following may use the Martel lot for pick-up and drop-off:

· Those participating in a carpool (at least two families);

· Families with three or more children in the car;

· Kindergarten families;

· Families with both Nursery School and Day School students.

Cars should proceed north on Martel and make a right-hand turn into the lot. Left turns -- from Hollywood Boulevard onto Martel, from Martel into the lot, and from the lot onto Martel -- won’t be allowed. Please pull all the way forward until you reach a staff member who will help the children in your car.

2. Fuller gate: If you don’t fall into any of the categories listed under the Martel lot, please pick up and drop off at the Fuller gate. Cars are to make one line, heading east on Hollywood Blvd., and turning right onto Fuller. Please be sure you are following the directions of the posted signs and curb markings. We are not responsible for parents who are in violation of the law. From there, proceed south to the white curb on the west side of the street, where a staff member will assist your child/children. Please don’t make a U-turn on Fuller or drop off or pick up your child on the east side of the street. Don’t double park to let your child out of the car. Also, please don’t cut onto the carpool line on Fuller by either making a left-hand turn from Hollywood Blvd. or coming straight down Fuller through the light.

3. Do not get out of your car: If you are in the drop-off or pick-up line, do not get out of your car at any time. Let staff help the children in and out of the car. If you have projects or food that your child cannot easily manage, follow the parking rules below. Under no circumstances should your children be allowed to walk through the parking lot unescorted.

4. Do not hold up the line: Please do not hold up the line while you wait.

5 Do not pull out of the carpool line: Do not go around cars in line ahead of you even if you have already loaded your children in the car. Please wait to leave the lot until all the cars in front of you in line have safely exited.

6 Passenger side only: Children should exit and enter vehicles on the passenger side only.

7 Rain Days: On rainy days, both carpools & non-carpools use the Martel lot. Children should then go directly to their classrooms where they will be supervised by Day School staff until schools starts.

4. Tardiness: If you arrive after 8:05 AM, you must escort your child(ren) to the office to obtain a late pass.

Parking: Given the dearth of parking spaces, parents who walk children into TIOH in the morning must park on surrounding streets. Exceptions include:

· When early drop-off Nursery School students/siblings are also being walked into the facility;

· When kindergarten students are being walked into the facility;

· When the parent/driver has a scheduled meeting, class or event at TIOH;

· When the car includes other toddlers and babies needing extra help.

Extended Day/ Enrichment Pick up

To pick up children from 3:15 - 3:45 PM, please park in the Martel Avenue lot and meet your child on the yard. If it is raining, Extended Day students will be in a classroom for this half-hour. Between 3:30 PM and 5:30 PM your child will be in the homework room or on the yard. All students should be picked up from the yard. As a safety measure, it is imperative that you sign your name in the extended/enrichment register when you leave with your child(ren).

Section C: Nursery School Families:

Early drop-off begins at 8:00 AM. Parents are to bring their child to the Pre-K playground and sign them in with the supervising teacher.

Drop-off is from 8:45 – 9:15 AM at the Martel door. Parents are to pull up to the door, without blocking the executive lot driveway, and Nursery School staff will sign the children in and escort them from the car. Parents who are not dropping off at the Martel Door may park in the lot and escort their children to the classroom.

Half-day pick up occurs between 12:30 – 12:45 PM in the parking lot. Please follow the carpool procedures listed below. No one may exit their parking space in the lot during that time, and must wait until the conclusion of the carpool line to safely exit the lot.

Pick up occurs for non-sibling students between 2:30 – 3:00 PM. At 3:00 PM siblings of Day School students will be dismissed. No one may exit a parking space in the lot until the conclusion of Day School dismissal at 3:15 PM to ensure the safety of our families.

Extended care pick up occurs from 3:15 – 5:30 PM and parents should park their car and come inside to sign out their children.

Do not get out of your car: If you are in the drop-off or pick-up line, do not get out of your car at any time. Let staff help the children in and out of the car. If you have projects or food that your child cannot easily manage, follow the parking rules below. Under no circumstances should your children be allowed to walk through the parking lot unescorted.

Do not hold up the line: Please do not hold up the line while you wait.

Do not pull out of the carpool line: Do not go around cars in line ahead of you even if you have already loaded your children in the car. Please wait to leave the lot until all the cars in front of you in line have safely exited.

Passenger side only: Children should exit and enter vehicles on the passenger side only.

Section D: Religious School - Sundays and Wednesdays:

Drop-off is from 8:45 - 9:10 AM on Sunday mornings, and from 3:45 – 4:20 PM on Wednesdays. Parents should pull into the parking lot and drop off their children, making sure to pull as close to the stairs as possible, and ensure that children do not have to cross in front of traffic. They should exit cars from the passenger side and proceed directly to the building. If parents would like to walk their children into the building, they may park in the lot, and escort their children inside. Please keep in mind that this is a heavy traffic time in the parking lot, and take extra care when crossing the lot.

Pick-up is from 12:00 – 12:15 PM for grades K – 2 and 12:25 – 12:50 PM for grades 3 – 12 on Sundays. If you are picking up your children, you must enter the carpool line, or park and come in to get your children. You may not park and wait for your children to come to you. This applies even if you arrive early for pick-up.

Please do not exit your vehicle while you are in the carpool line, and please move forward as far as possible. Cars will be loaded two at a time, and only when they have left should the line move forward. Please do not call out to your children when you are in the line, and do not pull out of the line at any time.

If you choose to park and go inside to pick up your children, walk slowly and as a group on your way back to the car, and be mindful of the cars in the carpool line. Please remember that you must not exit your parking space until after the completion of the carpool line. Do NOT under any circumstances go against the flow of traffic, as this is very unsafe.

Do not hold up the line: Please do not hold up the line while you wait.

Passenger side only: Children should exit and enter vehicles on the passenger side only.