Blake Ellis/The Independent

You may soon see concrete barriers in front of Lambton Kent District School Board child care centres.

The board is taking actions in the name of safety after a directive was received from Ontario Minister of Education to block the use of parking spaces that are adjacent to childcare facilities. 

A one-and-half year old boy was killed and six other children injured after a vehicle crashed into the daycare on Sept. 10 in Richmond Hill.

Lambton Kent’s Association Director of Corporate Services Brian McKay told trustees at its Sept. 23 meeting, steps have already been taken to block parking spaces that are near childcare facilities at any school board school.

Pylons have been set up temporarily before concrete barriers can be put in place. 

The school board will need to use its existing capital funding to install the measures, said McKay, but as parking lots are being designed in the future, steps will be taken to be mindful of the new safety measures. 

At the forefront of these changes, the school board wants to make sure students, families and staff are safe, said McKay. 

Trustee Angela Richards suggested parking could be put behind schools to prevent this kind of tragedy, something which McKay said would cost millions and the school board is not looking at taking that measure right now.