During phase two of the renovation and construction process, which is set to begin at the end of June, a new loading zone where parents can pick up and drop off their children will be constructed at the district corporation yard at the end of Allendale Avenue to avert traffic leading to the school's upper and lower lots.

In addition, the school will be adding 36 portable classrooms near the new lot to replace the ones that will be torn down in the summer.

Parents and administrators said they're hopeful the new plan will alleviate the traffic congestion caused by cars loading and unloading students, in addition to commuters trying to enter the parking lots at city hall, the post office and West Valley College.

"The roads are simply not built to handle all the traffic," said Cathie Thermond, who was the co-president of the school's Parent-Teacher Association and member of the Saratoga Union School District Board of Trustees.

According to sixth-grade teacher Pamela Dovala and Cyndi Chang, a parent volunteer who helps direct traffic in the parking lots, mornings are often more chaotic and dangerous than the afternoons because parents are in a rush to get to work. Dovala said she recently had a close call with a driver who made an illegal turn into the parking lot.

"Many parents are pretty good with following our system," said Chang. "However, there are some drivers who would do crazy things once I turn my back."

Thermond, who has a daughter attending the school, said it's amazing how far the line of cars extends.

"It's a mess when school lets out. I just want to completely avoid that area during that time."

As part of an agreement between the city and the district, the school is required to assess and address traffic safety issues when they remodel. In efforts to ease the traffic on Fruitvale and to improve safety, the school will be consulting with the city and traffic engineer Sorhab Rashid, who has drafted a plan that includes adding street signs, crosswalks and medians called pork chops, which will prevent drivers from making left turns into the school's upper lot.

Brigitte Ballingall, vice chairwoman of the Public Safety Commission and member of the district board, said these changes will help prevent drivers from making illegal and dangerous maneuvers to avoid long lines.

The solution to the traffic congestion comes following a long battle between the city and the school district over the appropriate use of state funding. According to Mayor Nick Streit, schools have been using their limited funding on implementing educational programs and neglected to address the traffic safety issue. However, since the agreement that was made three years ago, Streit said, the district has made great strides. In a letter written on behalf of the city, Streit commended the district for its work.

"The school has lived up to its commitment to improve traffic conditions around the site," said Streit. "I give them great credit and wish that other districts would do the same."

The mayor also applauded Ballingall, who has actively worked with each school, for her persistence.

"She's the driving force," said Streit.

Ballingall said she and the district expect the summer-long project to run smoothly and be completed by the next school year.