Residents Near Bowie High School Try To Be Neighborly

ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - Jeff Steele tries hard to be a good neighbor.

Wednesday night as he put up his holiday lights, he kept a close eye on his street.  "We all watch for everyone's house," says Steele, who lives next to Bowie High School in Arlington.

He's seen his share of students just hanging out.  "They get out, stand along their cars, being there with their windows up and when they rolled up the windows it was obviously what they were doing before second period," says Steele.

Homeowners say students skipping class, fighting and even parking along their streets is a big headache.  "I've got one that is parking straight across my driveway for the past two and half weeks and it's two high school kids," explains Britt Motley, who also lives in the neighborhood.

Signs have gone up saying no parking, stopping or standing from 7 a.m to 3:30 p.m. on school days.   There are about a dozen signs on just Steele and Motley's street alone.

Neighbors admit the signs have helped, but some think more needs to be done.

Arlington Independent School District has seven security guards on Bowie's campus.  One now patrols streets near the school, looking for students.

Students have even tried to help clean up the area.  "We have been working with the neighbors as well as the police department to try address those concerns," says Amy Casas with AISD. "The school has event called 'Bowie Gives Back' where students go out into the neighborhood and pick up trash and derby."

For homeowners it's all about being a good neighbor -  they just wish all the students would respect their neighborhood.

Arlington ISD says it will continue to work with homeowners to come up with solutions.  They've already had several meetings with the residents and plan on having more in the coming months.