Crossing guards in Barrie's sights

thebarrieexaminer.com
April 13, 2015
By Bob Bruton

School crossing guards at Barrie elementary schools are worth a look.

Councillors passed a motion on Monday asking that city staff investigate the feasibility of implementing a school crossing guard program here, and report back by September when the next schools year begins.

Specifically, Coun. Mike McCann wants information about comparable municipal experiences and costs of crossing guards, plus alternatives there are for programs, along with what it could cost and risks to the city.

McCann also wants information on whether a volunteer program is feasible, and if there's a chance the school boards would contribute to it.

Councillors passed his motion without discussion, Monday.

"We live in a dense population; it's not like the old days where kids would walk 30 minutes to school and back," McCann said. "Residents have been vocal and emotional about the safety of their children as they walk to and from school."

He noted that road safety is one of council's key priorities in this term of office.

McCann said Burlington, Oakville, Vaughan and Sudbury have crossing guards. He said Simcoe County District School Board trustee Jennifer Cameron, who represents Barrie Wards 7, 8, 9 and 10, supports the idea.

"It's pretty clear that a crossing guard program would result in safer streets," McCann said.

The board has 87 elementary schools, 26 in Barrie. Its policy on crossing guards is to use them "where allocated by the municipality." School safety patrols may be used where no municipal school crossing guards exist, if they can be paid for within the board's budget or from community funding.

None of Barrie's public elementary schools have crossing guards. But Hewitt’s Creek Public School on Sandringham Drive and Maple Grove Public School on Grove Street East each have a pedestrian-activated stop light to help students cross.

Schools in Collingwood, Clearview Township and New Tecumseth do have crossing guards, but the board generally doesn't keep track of them.

The board says municipalities are responsible, under the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) for school crossing guards, for their employment and enforce the HTA.

But municipalities are not required to provide school crossing guards, nor the funds to schools for safety patrols, if there are no crossing guards.

An elementary school principal may have a school safety patrol system.

The Simcoe Muskoka Catholic District School Board has 41 elementary schools, and 13 in Barrie. The Catholic board doesn't supply crossing guards for them.

They do exist, however, and are co-ordinated by the municipalities. The Catholic board doesn't keep track of the programs.

A community meeting on child and street safety will be held April 24 at Hewitt's Creek Public School on Sandringham Drive. McCann and Mayor Jeff Lehman are to attend.

Traffic speed and the safety of children on city streets will be discussed, along with traffic calming measures.

The meeting is scheduled for 6:30-7:30 p.m.