Action probably should have been forthcoming sooner, but Mars School District officials are right in their current effort to address a traffic-congestion problem on the road to the elementary school.

A recommendation on how best to deal with the issue is expected to come before the school board in February.

The elementary school is behind the primary center along Route 228. The two schools share an entrance off the same main roadway.

Robert Zaccari, elementary principal, reported to the board that he had solved the congestion on the road in question on school days by allowing more buses to pull up in front of the elementary school instead of waiting on the road. It is functions at the schools that further stymie efficient traffic flow and also pose potential trouble should an emergency vehicle have to get to the elementary building.

The district is correct in trying to avoid the expense of constructing another access road to the elementary school when the goal can be accomplished simply by better management of the traffic at the school site. One partial remedy already in effect is that the two schools will not be holding special functions on the same day.

In addition to the change involving the buses, the congestion on school days has been addressed in part by opening up the play area behind the elementary school to parents picking up their children.

One suggestion put forth would involve operating a shuttle for parents attending functions at their children's school. However, if the walking distance isn't excessive, the school district should not incur the expense — however small — of operating such a service.

It is William Pettigrew, district superintendent, who will present the traffic plan in February. Between now and then, individual board members should give considerable thought on their own to how best the problem might be solved.