Tecumseh is phasing out its school crossing guard program — but it'll take some time
Cuts to crossing guards to get assessment first
Tecumseh town council is phasing out the school crossing guard program, but individual locations won't be left without guards until an assessment is done and council has a chance to make a decision.
That's what came out of a meeting this week after some impassioned pleas to retain the crossing guards.
"We're taking away the safety measure, the one safety measure that's in existence. That's a very strong concern," said resident Jillian Butler.
"I'm a taxpayer here. I'm more than willing to pay the money to be able to put school safety guards," said resident Teresa Weymouth.
The town has seven crossing guards serving five schools.
The crossing guard program is being replaced by pedestrian crossovers and traffic control measures within the community safety zone policy, controlled pedestrian crossing policy, school safety zone policy where the speed limit will be lowered to 40 km/hr and speed management and traffic calming policy.
But administration was instructed to hold information sessions with the school boards and the schools affected by the changes.
When outlining the new policies the town's manager of public works and engineering services Phil Bartnik said the Municipality of Chatham-Kent discontinued the use of crossing guards in 2016 and implemented the enhanced crossing measures similar to ones Tecumseh is turning to and hasn't looked back.
"As of January 2024 Chatham-Kent has not revisited their decision, did not identify any operational concerns and has continued to enhance pedestrian crossover measures," said Bartnik, who also added that retaining the cross guards can be difficult.
WATCH | Community members in Tecumseh say crossing guards are needed:
The cost of running the crossing guard program is $110,000 per year.
While deputy mayor Joe Bachetti likes the idea of the enhanced crossovers he also was moved by residents who don't want to see the human factor removed from the equation.
He put forward the suggestion of having consultation with school boards and wanted to see if the town could do both implement the new safety measures and keep crossing as well.
"County Road 42 is a four-lane highway. It may warrant a crossing guard," said Bachetti, a retired school principal.
CAO Marg Misek-Evans reminded council that the recommendation to phase out the crossing guards comes with some wiggle room.
"Nothing will be done at those crossing guard locations until we have done the appropriate assessment, we've reported on the outcomes, sought council approval and the installation of the recommended capital works is in place," said Misek-Evans.
"Any assessment outcomes will be brought back to council and your approval will be sought and the installation of the recommended capital works would have to be built into the capital budgets, also a decision that is within the control of council."
It will take at least two years to go through the process of implementing the new safety measures and the phasing out of the crossing guards, if the decision at the time is to do so.
The crossing guard will disappear at D.M. Eagle school at the end of this school year because the school is closing.
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