Written by Amanda Coers – Victory Life Academy, a Christian school operated under the umbrella of Victory Life Church in Brownwood, will be getting a pair of flashing school zone safety lights, thanks to TxDOT and a generous donor who wishes to remain anonymous. Rick Phelps, a teacher and coach at the school, is grateful for answered prayers.
“God did it,” said Phelps. “A bunch of people said I was wasting my time. Wrong! God did it.” Phelps posted the good news on social media Tuesday afternoon. Phelps has been advocating for the lights beginning with a request for help from the Brown County Commissioners’ Court on January 17th.
The school, which currently enrolls over 100 students, is located in an odd position, between the Brownwood and Early city limits, and is classified as Brown County, though it has a Brownwood address. The posted speed limit for that particular stretch of road is 45 miles per hour, and drivers often travel at speeds of 60 or faster. In the past 18 months there’s been four wrecks with injuries near the drive entrance to the school.
“It’s gotten to a point now where it’s dangerous and something needs to be done,” Phelps told Brown County Commissioners.
Phelps and the county commissioners discussed the possibility of installing flashing school zone signs with a school hours speed limit of 20 miles per hour to be in effect. There are two school caution signs currently posted near the campus. Those signs are not lighted and a school hours speed limit is not imposed. Brown County Judge Ray West noted there would most likely be a process involved should the county choose to install the flashing signs and impose a speed limit change, which would include posting public notice, allowing for public commentary during commissioners’ court, and possibly a hearing.
Now that the school has the funds needed to purchase the safety lights, Rick Phelps will speak with the commissioners’ court again on Monday, April 3rd, to discuss the next steps.
