Safe Routes to School Coordinator/RPO Planner

A Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grant was awarded by the North Carolina Department of Transportation to the Isothermal Rural Planning Organization to carry out the responsibilities described in this description across Rutherford County elementary and middle schools.

The Program Coordinator (66% of the time) will carry out the responsibilities and activities of the Safe Routes to School grant on behalf of the Isothermal Rural Planning Organization (IRPO), which is part of the Isothermal Planning and Development Commission (IPDC) in Rutherfordton, North Carolina.

The Program Coordinator will develop, administer and coordinate a variety of school-based programs supporting IRPO’s SRTS goals across Rutherford County. The Program Coordinator will plan, organize and implement SRTS programs at Rutherford County elementary and middle schools; support school sites’ SRTS efforts; collaborate with the school district to develop sequential classroom-based lessons supporting the SRTS program; communicate and coordinate with community organizations, law enforcement, advocacy groups and city/county officials, and develop a variety of other SRTS initiatives.

Key responsibilities include program development/planning, program administration, marketing/outreach, education and training, event promotion, volunteer coordination, and program evaluation.

The RPO Planner (34% of the time) will work with the Director to develop a robust counting program, primarily for bicyclists and pedestrians but also for vehicles. So, the Planner will report monthly on permanent bike/ped counters, as well as set-up and do counts as requested by the membership.

The RPO Planner will also serve as the point person for all or some of non-highway modes (bicycle, pedestrian, aviation and transit), depending on applicant interest and the needs of the RPO. The position will work with the membership to develop non-highway plans and project ideas, that may be submitted as part of Prioritization process.