WBOE Addresses Crossing Guard Program

Officials from the Wicomico County School System and Wicomico County announced at a press conference Friday, Nov. 6, that they have agreed on a plan for funding and continuing the school crossing guard program for the remainder of the school year.

The school system will pay approximately $50,000 out of contracted services so that the 13 school crossing guards can continue assisting students with street crossings at Wicomico County Public Schools, effective Dec. 1. For the remainder of the 2009-10 school year, the school crossing guards will be funded in much the same way as the school resource officers (Sheriff’s Office deputies assigned to schools), with the Sheriff’s Office handling the program and funding provided by the Board of Education.

Having crossing guards to assist students at some of the busiest street crossings is a critical safety issue, and the school system holds student safety to be paramount, said Dr. John Fredericksen, superintendent of schools. Other areas of the budget will have to be reduced to ensure funding for the school crossing guards.

The school system recognizes the unprecedented financial challenges facing Wicomico County, and is working closely with the county to find ways to save money while also protecting student safety and education, he said. Earlier this week, Wicomico County and Wicomico Schools received welcome news from the Maryland Attorney General's Office that their joint plan to meet the annual maintenance of effort requirement with a $2 million transfer from the school construction fund was valid. Wicomico's plan was the only one of three MOE plans that received state approval. At the press conference, Dr. Fredericksen presented Pollitt with the $2 million check.

Sheriff Mike Lewis proposed the elimination of funding for school crossing guards as one way of meeting the need for budget reductions. The school crossing guard program is one item on a list of budget cuts proposed recently by County Executive Richard M. Pollitt Jr. The Wicomico County Council will hold a public hearing on those proposed cuts at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, at the Wicomico Youth & Civic Center.

The Sheriff’s Office and the Wicomico County Board of Education anticipate signing a memorandum of understanding outlining the handling and funding of the school crossing guard after Nov. 30, when due to budget constraints the crossing guards will no longer be part of the Sheriff’s Office budget. The future of the school crossing guard program after June 30 will be discussed during the upcoming budget process for the budget year that will begin July 1.