The unseemly spat between the Watertown City Council and the Board of Education over a safe route to city schools is dismaying. The pressing demand imposed by the Summit Woods housing development on the city's southern boundary calls for cooperation rather than the sniping that marked discussion of safety issues at simultaneous board meetings Monday night.

A letter from School Superintendent Terry N. Fralick to city officials expressing concern about the absence of a safe walking route for students drew a rebuke from Councilman Jeffrey M. Smith who found portions of the letter "disturbing" and "rather offensive."

With the 200-unit Summit Woods complex expected to accept residents later this year, intermediate, middle-school and high-school students will have to walk to schools either down busy Washington Street or through other pathways.

Mr. Fralick has valid reason to be concerned about the dangerous situation that might exist where there are no sidewalks now. The city does not expect to install the walks on the west side of Washington Street until next year.

Mr. Fralick also called for development of a walking path from Summit Woods to Iroquois Avenue, which would direct students and other residents away from Washington Street, not just to schools but to stores and other services in the neighborhood as well.

Although student safety may be the catalyst for the discussion, it would be shortsighted not to realize the value of safe walking routes for all pedestrians.

While neighborhood residents and council members are opposed to the walkway suggestion, Mayor Jeffrey E. Graham is right in pointing out that residents will make their own "de facto" path.

Undeveloped pathways, though, pose their own safety concerns. It would be preferable to have a rational development of a paved and lighted pathway that also serves to keep pedestrians, bicyclists and other users to an established route they can depend on.

Watertown governments welcomed the development of quality housing that will draw hundreds of residents to the neighborhood. Now it is incumbent on the city and school district to work together to create safe pathways. Safety is paramount.