Every school day, crossing guards step into busy streets to protect students, parents and teachers alike. But behind every reflective vest and bright red stop sign is a person with a story about how they ended up directing traffic and keeping kids safe.
Becoming a crossing guard – and deciding how many guards are needed in a district – requires more work than you may think.
“Crossing guards are employed by the City of Oklahoma City and are assigned to serve at various school districts,” says Florenda Williams, Administrative Coordinator Crossing Guard with the City of Oklahoma City. “Each district’s Board of Education determines which schools require crossing guards and how many are needed. The Traffic Safety Unit conducts surveys to ensure each crossing is within the City of Oklahoma City limits.”
Districts are responsible for 50% of each crossing guard’s pay, with every employee being paid twelve dollars an hour while working one hour in the morning and one in the afternoon.
“They are scheduled to work up to 180 days per school year,” says Williams. A crossing guard working daily makes roughly $4,320 a year and has their payments split down the middle, with the school and the City each paying $2,160.
While many assume that crossing guards are volunteers or parents of children at each school, the position requires an application process and plenty of training. To become a guard in OKC, one must start the process by applying online through the City of Oklahoma City website.
“I then contact each applicant to confirm their continued interest in becoming a crossing guard and to determine which school they are interested in working at,” says Williams.
A background check must be passed before employment is granted.
“If the applicant passes the background check, they are scheduled for a drug test. Upon receiving a clear drug test result, I contact the school to notify them that a new crossing guard has been assigned to their site,” says Williams.
Applicants are then expected to complete the City of Oklahoma City new hire orientation.
“After orientation, they receive crossing guard training and are issued the necessary equipment for the position, including a safety vest, stop sign, whistle and rain poncho,” says Williams.
Once stationed, crossing guards aren’t just there to wave people through; they also make vital connections.
“The crossing guards build relationships with the students and school staff each day by speaking to them – letting them know they are there to help them get to and from school safely every day,” says Williams. “They let them know safety is their number one priority.”
Over the years, traffic patterns have changed – and it mostly involves motorists not following crossing rules, which can lead to dangerous situations for the students and staff on site.
“Motorists are speeding and are often distracted by electronic devices, including cell phones and tablets,” says Williams.
Crossing guards are trained to take their jobs seriously.
“If they see something, they do something,” says Williams. “They will reach out and let me know what is going on at their school site, whether it’s a speeder or a motorist not following the safety rules of the roadway. I will forward the information to the Traffic Safety Unit and they will send one of the motorcycle officers to patrol the school site.”
