Crossing Guards

Using school crossing guards may create liability on the part of the school district for the safety of the children using the guarded crossing.  For this reason, the crossing guards must be trained and responsible adults.  The following guidelines are established and shall be followed for district crossing guards:

1. The crossing guards shall receive appropriate training, using the Redwood Crossing Guard Program materials. Before the crossing guard performs their duties they must minimally be trained by their supervisor using the Redwood Crossing Guard Program School Crossing Guard Training Manual.  As soon as it is possible the crossing guard will attend a full training provided by the Department of Health and Human Service (DHHS) or the Police Department, or complete the online coursework on Keenan SafeSchools. Every crossing guard shall be required to undergo one of the aforementioned trainings annually.
2. Guards shall wear the appropriate clothing, including a safety vest or jacket.
3. If the district chooses to provide crossing guards, locations shall be approved by the school district’s governing board.  The guards should be provided only at those crossings where a compelling need exists.
4. The district shall develop a schedule of the hours that the specified crossing(s) will be guarded, and this schedule shall be communicated in writing to the parents of the district’s students.
5. Should the district wish to change the hours or the crossing(s) that are guarded or to discontinue providing crossing guards, the changes shall be communicated in writing to the parents of the district’s students.
6. The district shall develop a contingency plan, so that the guarded crossing(s) are never left unattended during the hours when they are scheduled to be guarded.  Crossing guards who are unable to report for work shall notify the District in a timely manner so that a substitute guard can be provided.
7. Problems with disorderly children shall be reported to the school principal for immediate action. If a child has a problem that is serious in nature and cannot wait until he/she reaches the school, the guard shall notify a school official regarding the nature of the problem.
8. Guards shall not attempt to stop vehicles that commit traffic violations, but shall obtain the license number and description of the vehicle and report it to the law enforcement agency within that jurisdiction.
9. Guards shall not direct traffic under any circumstances.
10. The crossing guard shall perform, at a minimum, the following procedures when crossing students:
    • The guard shall stand on the curb on the side of the street from which children are approaching.
    • The guard shall wait until a group of children has assembled (when applicable) and shall instruct the children to remain on the sidewalk until the crossing guard signals the children to cross the street.
    • The guard shall wait for a gap in traffic and, when conditions permit, he or she shall enter the crosswalk and walk to the center of the roadway. Under no circumstance shall the guards allow the children to follow him or her into the intersection.
    • The crossing guard shall establish visual contact with approaching vehicles while holding the hand-held stop sign, to ensure visibility. He/she shall then wait for the traffic approaching in all directions to stop, and then shall motion the children to cross the street.
    • The guard shall remain in the center of the street until the last child reaches the opposite curb.
    • The crossing guard shall then return to the curb on the side of the street from which children are approaching.
    • All crossing guards shall have in their possession a note book and pencil with which to record traffic violators.