WM city, schools to expand number of crossing guards

WM city, schools to expand number of crossing guards

Regulars in need of back- ups, say officials

news@theeveningtimes.com

The West Memphis City Council approved the expansion of the school crossing guard pool during the last city council meeting of August. Crossing guards work at the schools under the police department. The payroll is shared 50/50 with the school district.

Mayor Bill Johnson told city council that a bigger roster of guards was needed to cover all the schools in cases of an absence. The mayor indicated that the move would not represent a bigger payroll burden for the city or the schools as the guards are paid for actual hours worked. Adding guards build the number of available workers to staff existing assignments and does not create more positions. Johnson said the only expense for the police department would be to outfit the new guards in uniforms. He took it before council as a permission request because it represented a change at the police department.

“Police Chief Donald Oakes is having a difficult time covering the crossing guard assignments and is having to use patrolmen to do it,” said Johnson. “He wanted to add two more crossing guards. Moneywise it doesn’t matter because when the others don’t work, we don’t pay them; they work by the hour. But we need some on standby.”

“This would just add two more to his list for the schedule,” confirmed Councilwoman Ramona Taylor.

Councilman James Pulliaum sought clarification on the pay arrangements and related expenses.

“Are we going 50/50 or 100 percent,” asked Pulliaum.

“Are there expenses for us?” “It is 50/50 with the schools,” replied Johnson. “There will be a slight expense

to get them into uniforms.”

The mayor lauded the crossing guards, many of them senior citizens not wanting to retire because they love the students. But they needed a few more hands to stand in the gap for days the regular guards have to miss.

“They don’t want to resign,” said Johnson. “They love the kids and want to keep on working. The crossing guard at Bragg is seeing her fourth generation of students. It’s not the money, its the kids. She love’s it.”

Councilman Willis Mondy volunteers as a crossing guard at Wonder City Elementary School and talked about the experience.

“When the students aren’t there I miss them,” said Mondy, “and if I’m not there when I come back they ask me where I was at. Those kids really care and I really care for them. I love it.”

“I am going to ask for an addition of two school crossing guards to be paid as they work,” said Johnson. “They’ll be used as a back up in the event someone doesn’t show up for work. Those that are off will not be paid, so it is neutral as far as salaries are concerned.”

By John Rech