Weeks before school opened, staff from the public works department replaced the painted red curbs on the front side of the parcel on Shadow Mountain Road with signs prohibiting drivers from parking during school hours from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Staff also painted four 25-foot sections on the corners of Ljepava and Miljevich drives red to prevent drivers from parking while escorting students to and from the campus, thereby increasing visibility of oncoming traffic.

The new signs and painted curbs are what some neighborhood residents, such as Barry Stevens and George Putnam, are calling good starting points.

"I like the idea of painting the curbs on the residential side of the street," said Stevens, property owner on Miljevich Drive. "It widens up the street and gives it more of an appealing look."

Putnam said it's still too early to tell whether the signs are successful—with it being so early in the school year and with parents of new students who may not be as familiar with the territory—but feels that it's a step in the right direction.

"It's important to address any traffic issues the school may have," Putnam said. "The students, as well as the parents, should be safe at the school. Whatever is done to help these people feel safer is progress."

According to the school's principal, Sue Brooks, traffic conditions on site have gotten a lot smoother over the years, after the city provided sawhorses and temporary signage to help alleviate the congestion of cars along the streets and confusion from drivers. These devices disappeared during construction at the school.

What Brooks and many parents have observed on occasion are drivers making dangerous maneuvers and illegal turns into the school's parking lot.

Instead of making a loop around Tjepava, Miljevich or Glasgow drives and turning right into the school's entrance from Shadow Mountain Road, drivers coming from Chateau are making a left turn into the loading and unloading zone, despite signs that read "no left turn."

According to Brooks, the signs were intended to be in effect only during school pickup and drop-0off times. She said she's spoken on behalf of several parents who have gotten tickets for making left turns outside of the pickup and drop-off times and pleaded with judges and patrol officers to dismiss tickets without having any success.

To clarify any confusion, a sign specifying the times in which left turns are not allowed is posted. Drivers will not be able to make left turns from 8 a.m. to 8: 30 a.m. and from 2 p.m. to
3:30 p.m.

Other problems that parents and neighbors have spotted include cars backing up along Shadow Mountain Road and on neighboring streets.

Elle Palmer, a resident on Chateau Drive, said she tries to avoid going down Shadow Mountain Road whenever she can. Instead, she said she goes down an adjacent street to get to the main intersection.

"Cars are pretty much parked on the streets when it comes time to pick up the students," Palmer said. "It's hard to get around the cars without driving in a lane that I'm not supposed to be in. Sometimes I think it would be faster if I just walk home."

Another resident on the same street said she's seen many cars double-parking and blocking her driveway. She said she's skeptical that the signs would make any difference.

"There may be more rules to follow, but that just means more people will be breaking the rules," said Mae Peters.

Her husband, David, said he would like to have a school bus transporting students to and from school instead of having cars block the area, but given the economic difficulties, that may not be the most ideal option. However, he gave another piece of advice to parents.

"Get to the school a bit earlier," he said. "That way, there won't be as many cars in the area at one time."

Katherine Tseng, the president of Argonaut's Parent Teacher Association, said that the main concern at the school is to keep students safe. She said she's observed some parents making unsafe maneuvers around the students.

"This is not a way to teach the kids," Tseng said. "Parents should try to get their child to school earlier. If the student is late, it's not a big deal. It's not worth compromising the child's safety."

According to Tseng, who has two sons attending the school, it takes approximately three minutes to get from the end of Shadow Mountain Road to the parking lot.

However, Tseng pointed out that the traffic condition at the school has not been a major issue with parents and neighbors, relative to what other schools in Saratoga are experiencing.

"We're trying to get people to do the right thing," Brooks added. "Hopefully these signs will do the trick."

As for the traffic backup, Brooks advised drivers to be patient and to watch for pedestrians.