Community Corner

Patch Partners for Kids Crossing Safely

Recent meeting sparked ideas for short-term solutions to get guards on the street, as well as great ideas for a long-term plan to get funding for paid crossing guards.

As our work to help get local kids to school safely continues, this morning's meeting was overwhelmingly successful. We had dozens of ideas for both long-term and short-term solutions to the crossing guard shortage but we need some feedback from you — the busy moms and dads driving during peak crossing times, the parents who won't let their kids go through those busy intersections, the voters who would prefer not to have taxes raised so we can fund this initiative.

We need your comments and suggestions to help make this possible. 

In the short-term

With school kicking off in less than two weeks (Sept. 4), we have very little time to really drive this initiative home. So, our objective for the next couple of weeks is simply to get a few crossing guards that are ready, willing and able to help get these kids to school safely. So far, we have three residents (including myself) who are able to help a few days a week. But we still need help as there are at least two major intersections that need guards twice per day. 

Find out what's happening in Fox Point-Baysidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In the long-term

For next year, the best long-term solution we've come up with so far is paid crossing guards, similar to the setup in Whitefish Bay. However, paid crossing guards mean funding. If this cost is spread throughout the local school districts, it's esimated so far that we would need about $3,000 per district. 

A few fundraising ideas we've come up with so far:

Find out what's happening in Fox Point-Baysidewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

  • A camp out at Ellsworth Park with a small fee (maybe $10) per tent.
  • Possible donation from the PTO or educational foundations.

This is all still a work in progress, but we wanted to pose our thoughts and ideas to you, the moms and dads, voters and residents to see what you think. 

How else can we fund paid crossing guards?

Is there a better answer than paid crossing guards?

How else can we get committed, volunteer crossing guards for this school year?

If you are interested in more information or being a crossing guard this year, please check out this flier. Also, don't forget to "Like" our Facebook page to get up-to-date information on the continuing efforts to find safe routes for kids getting to school. 


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