Two Dartmouth schools now have no crossing guard. Here's what's happening.

Matthew Ferreira, The Standard-Times
·2 min read

DARTMOUTH — For Quinn Elementary School and Dartmouth Middle school, Feb. 16 wasn't just the final day before winter break — it was also the final day of having a crossing guard.

The change was announced a couple days earlier in a Feb. 14 letter to families, citing "staffing shortages" as the reason.

"Please realize that there was no alternative," said Justin Medeiros, traffic safety officer for Dartmouth police, in a video released Wednesday on social media by the Dartmouth Police Department. "...the decision was reached only after both the school and police departments were unsuccessful in their attempt to fill [the crossing guard position.]"

In the video, Medeiros goes on to say "when manning permits us to do so, members of the Dartmouth Police Department will be assisting our three school resource officers with monitoring and immediately addressing any issues which may arise as has always been the case."

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"We recognize the importance of ensuring the safety of our students and addressing traffic concerns in these areas," reads the district's letter to families. "To this end, we are actively collaborating with the Dartmouth Police Department to explore alternative solutions for students crossing Hawthorn Street and Slocum Road."

Quinn Elementary School is located at 529 Hawthorn St. Dartmouth Middle School is within a half-mile from Quinn Elementary, at 366 Slocum Rd.

Bus rules eased to accomodate families

In response, the district has waived distance thresholds for affected Quinn and Dartmouth Middle School students who otherwise live too close to qualify for busing.

In this Standard-Times file photo, Dartmouth traffic supervisor, Lynne Mercure, keeps traffic flowing on Hawthorn Street in front of the Quinn Elementary School in Dartmouth on a wet morning. Starting Monday, Feb. 26, there won't be a crossing guard for Quinn Elementary or Dartmouth Middle School anymore due to a lack of staffing, Dartmouth Public Schools announced earlier this month.

Normally, middle and high school students living within one-and-a-half miles of school, and Kindergarten-elementary students living within a half-mile of school, wouldn't be eligible without a special waiver, according to transportation policy.

"We did contact families of individually impacted students and offered to allow them to ride a bus," said Superintendent Dr. June Saba-Maguire. "Our primary concern is to get students safely to school. The police department will take measures to manage the traffic."

Want to be a Dartmouth crossing guard? Here's your chance

The district's letter encourages "individuals interested in contributing to school safety through traffic management to consider applying for positions within the Dartmouth Police Department."

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According to DPD Detective Kyle Costa, public information officer, the crossing guard position is a civilian role. Costa, on Wednesday, said Dartmouth Police Chief Brian Levesque planned to speak to the school crossing situation at the upcoming Select Board meeting on Monday.

DPD said those interested in the school crossing guard position should contact Administrative Assistant Shannon Lyonnais at 508-910-1736.

This article originally appeared on Standard-Times: Dartmouth schools need a new crossing guard