Parents, union opposed to scrapping school crossing guards in Tecumseh

As Tecumseh council considerseliminating school crossing guards,parents who spoke withCBC News said theyare opposed due to safety concerns.

"They're [the crossing guards] anecessity. Like, every dayI walk my daughter to school and both these intersections, main ones are always so busy," said Jeffrey Pillon, while standing outside St. Pius School on Lacasse Boulevard.

"My daughter would like to start walking on her own and be a little more independent, but I told her if there's no crossing guardshe won't be allowed to do that," said Bonnie Seguin, whose daughter attends St. Pius School.

"I can't believe it. I feel like they're essential," said Shelby Palmer, whose son Archer attends kindergarten at the school.

"We've almost been hit numerous times. So we need our crossing guards. We cannot get rid of them."

A report from the public works department in Tecumseh has outlined possible alternatives to the use of school crossing guards to help students and other pedestrians cross busy streets in the town.

WATCH: Reaction to the proposal to eliminate crossing guards

Community members say crossing guards needed in Tecumseh

5 months ago

Duration 1:56

As Tecumseh, Ont., considers scrapping its crossing guard program, some say it would be a mistake. Archer Palmer, 5, his mom Shelby Palmer, Jeffrey Pillon, Bonnie Seguin and Dora Fodor share their views with CBC's Dale Molnar outside St. Pius X Catholic Elementary School.

Measures would include a variety of pedestrian crossovers, such as ones where pedestrians push a button and lights flash making traffic stop.

The matter went before council on April 23 but it was deferred after a motion from Ward 1 Coun. Alicia Higgison.

"We're proposing to introduce a major change and I think we need some more community input anda little bit of breathing room to communicate and educate as we move forward in this," said Higgison at the April meeting.

CBCNewsattempted to reach other councillorsand the mayor forcomment but was not successful.

Phil Bartnik is the director of public works for the Town of Tecumseh. He says the crossing guard program costs about $110,000 a year and crossing guards only service fiveof the town's 11 elementary schools, a quirk from before amalgamation.

"So as we gothrough the process ... not only did we look at the financing, we looked at safety, we looked at other features that could be installed really to enhance pedestrian safety on a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week basis," Bartnik said.

He says they'll be looking at measures including street lighting, designated school safety zones, installing more pedestrian features and other traffic-calming measures.

Bartnik says they also have problems with retention of crossing guards,and ensuring all locations are fully staffed.

"I think the the thought was that... re-purposing some of those funds that could go toward some of these permanent solutions that would be more widespread across the community at all of the elementary schools and not only just for those five specific ones," he said.

The crossing guards aren't allowed to speak to media but they are represented by CUPE Local 702.

Vice-President Kim Cocks sent CBC an emailed statement saying that the union "strongly encourages the Town of Tecumseh to reconsider the phasing out of school crossing guards."

Cathy Barrett is a national servicing rep for CUPE in Windsor. She says the union will be making a presentation to council on Monday urging them against the decision, calling it "wrongheaded."

"The way [Tecumseh] is growing and the fact of the matter is there's young families everywhere," Barrett said. "We know children are distracted on the level that they haven't beenanytime in the past with smart phones and whatever else that they're thinking about.

"I can't imagine that city council would even think for a minute that relying on those electronic solutions or even the traffic calming solutions would be a good substitution for real people paying attention."

Barrettsaid crossing guards are often familiar faces to students, get to know them and know their neighbourhoods.

"We want to see these jobs stay in the community. It makes for a more comfortable place. It makes for a safer place," she said. "We're going to make sure that council hears our message at council on Monday."

Tecumseh council deals with the issue on May 13.