Lace ‘em up and walk to school Wednesday

Some metro students will be walking to school Wednesday morning with their parents. And it’s not because they’re in trouble.

Forty-five Georgia schools will participate in International Walk to School day, an event that promotes walking and bicycling, instead of riding in a bus or car.

Environmental awareness is a priority for Alpharetta’s Ocee Elementary, said Monica Phillips, a PTA vice president. Last year, about 30 Ocee students and their parents walked to school for the event. This year, there has been more publicity for the event, which may get more walking, though rain is in the forecast.

East Side Elementary in Marietta will participate in the event — which went international in 2000 — for the first time. At 7 a.m., walkers will hit the road, either from their homes or two meeting points: East Cobb Park and Fullers Park.

Kim Dupuy, an East Side parent who helped plan the school’s event, said Cobb police will be in the area to help prevent speeding in the school zone.

Cobb schools transporation director Rick Grisham said the school buses will run their routes as usual Wednesday morning.