London is being urged to reconsider its approach to assigning school crossing guards, as per a recent city staff report set to be reviewed by the infrastructure and corporate services committee. The report proposes a reassessment of the criteria used to determine the need for a crossing guard at specific intersections, marking the first such review since 2013. Following a directive from the city council last summer to enhance the school crossing guard program, the city is now poised to deliberate on potential improvements.

Concerns have been raised by parents, including Sarah Meyer from the Huron Heights neighborhood, who emphasized the importance of ensuring children’s safety on their way to school. Meyer, a mother of four, highlighted the presence of a crossing guard at one intersection leading to Evelyn Harrison Public School but expressed worries about unsupervised crossings at nearby intersections, citing instances of reckless behaviors by both pedestrians and drivers.

With 106 crossing guards currently stationed at 104 locations across London, the program, funded through property taxes at an annual cost of $1.6 million, operates at full capacity according to the staff report. The existing process for requesting new crossing guards involves submitting requests through the city’s online portal, with assessments conducted based on criteria established by the Ontario Traffic Council and adapted by the municipality.

The report suggests that the city should update its evaluation metrics and collect fresh data on the usage of existing crossing guard locations, a sentiment echoed by ICSC committee member and Ward 4 Coun. Susan Stevenson, who expressed surprise at the lack of updates to the criteria since 2013. If the recommendations are endorsed by the committee and subsequently by the full council, city staff will be tasked with reporting back on their findings and proposed actions.

In addition to the crossing guard program review, feedback from over 100 school principals highlighted the positive impact of the program on student safety, while also underscoring the need for clearer reporting processes and addressing broader traffic safety concerns in school zones. Linda Steel, vice chair of the London Catholic District School Board, emphasized the evolving nature of safety concerns around schools, shifting from a focus solely on crossing guards to encompassing broader issues of traffic congestion and driver behavior.

While advocating for increased crossing guard presence, Meyer stressed the shared responsibility of both authorities and drivers in ensuring the safety of school children. She emphasized the need for heightened awareness and caution among drivers, alongside potential enhancements to the crossing guard program to address the evolving safety needs in London’s school zones.