The director of the Lambton-Kent District school Board is pointing the finger right back at the municipality over who is responsible for crossing guards.
Jim Costello says the school boards take responsibility for student safety once students get onto school property.
"Legally, it's not our responsibility to pay for crossing guards," says Costello. "That responsibility is articulated in the Highway Traffic Act where it states clearly that crossing guards are the responsibility of local government."
Under section 176 of the Highway Traffic Act, a school crossing guard is defined as "a person sixteen years of age or older who is directing the movement of persons across a highway and who is, (a) employed by a municipality, or (b) employed by a corporation under contract with a municipality to provide the services of a school crossing guard."
Costello says the school boards do take responsibility for student safety once the students board a bus, but not if they are walking to school.
He also understands, though, that while crossing guards fall under the responsibility of the municipality, Chatham-Kent is not obligated to provide the service, and when it comes to spending money, sometimes difficult decisions have to be made.
"I recognize that the municipal government has to make budget cuts... and I also recognize parents' rights to be concerned about student safety," says Costello. "I hope there is an opportunity down the road for these dollars to be re-deployed back into play so that the crossing guards can be re-instated."
Costello says the school boards provide safety patrols consisting of grade 7/8 students who assist students getting to the school, but they aren't paid for their work.
Chatham-Kent council voted to cut the municipally-paid crossing guards during their 2016 budget talks.
