County Leaders Encourage Kindness, Safety & Respect

POUGHKEEPSIE – As students across Dutchess County prepare to return to classrooms for the 2026-27 school year, County Executive Sue Serino and Sheriff Kirk Imperati remind the community that everyone plays a role in creating a safe, welcoming and respectful environment for children, both in schools and on the roads.

The County leaders are encouraging parents, educators, students and drivers to work together to help ensure every child feels supported, protected and ready to learn throughout the school year.

Dutchess County Executive Sue Serino said, “A new school year is a fresh start full of excitement and opportunity. When we choose kindness and respect, we help every student feel welcome, supported and ready to learn. Together, we can give our children the confidence to grow, succeed and shine.”

County Executive Serino emphasized that strong relationships between families, educators and students are key to building positive school communities. By treating one another with compassion and understanding, she said, we can create environments where all students have the opportunity to thrive.

Sheriff Imperati reminded drivers that keeping students safe extends beyond the classroom and into the community. As children walk, bike, ride buses and travel to and from school, motorists are urged to slow down, remain alert and follow traffic laws, especially during busy arrival and dismissal times.

Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati said, “The safety of our students is a shared responsibility. Drivers must stay focused, follow the rules of the road and take extra precautions in school zones. Please slow down, watch for children crossing the street, follow the direction of crossing guards and never pass a school bus with its red lights flashing. A few extra seconds of caution can help prevent a tragedy.”

Drivers should plan ahead and allow additional time for their commutes so they can safely stop for school buses. Under New York State law, all vehicles must stop when a school bus has flashing red lights, including on divided highways such as Routes 9, 44 and 55.

Motorists who fail to stop for school buses may face tickets and fines. School buses throughout Dutchess County are equipped with stop-arm cameras through a partnership with BusPatrol LLC to help identify violators. Eleven of the County’s 13 school districts participate in the program.

In addition to promoting roadway safety, County Executive Serino and Sheriff Imperati reaffirmed their continued commitment to supporting safe and positive learning environments through ongoing partnerships with local school districts.