News digest

New ban on dogs at Warwick schools Warwick — Because the Warwick Valley Central School District has had an on-going problem with dog waste on school property, including playgrounds and sport fields, district officials have created a new set of guidelines for dogs and their owners. Dogs are now prohibited on school property during school hours or at school events. Dog owners who bring their dogs onto school properties after hours must have them leashed at all times and clean up after them using proper pet waste disposal methods. Dog waste contains fecal coliform bacteria, which has ended up on students’ feet or hands and inside school buildings. It washes down storm drains and into ditches, streams and lakes, creating health issues for people in surrounding areas. Dogs also present a liability issue for the district should an individual be harmed by a dog on school property during a school event. The new guidelines are an intermediary step taken in hopes of gaining the community’s cooperation as opposed to banning dogs completely and permanently from school property. School bus routes won’t be publicized Warwick — Due to concerns voiced by community members, student bus routes for the Warwick Valley Central School District will no longer be published in the local newspapers. Parents instead should look for a postcard that will be mailed home from the district’s transportation department the third week of August. Each child’s route details will be on the postcards. Parents are also advised to check the school Web site just before school opens to see if there are any last-minute changes in the bus route. For more information, call 987-3035.