FORT WORTH — School starts in less than a week in Fort Worth, and parents in the northern part of the city are learning their kids may not have crossing guards on their way to school.
City officials say they are short between 10 to 15 crossing guards, and along one busy intersection there is concern.
"It scares me. It really does," said Colleen Demel. "You have kids walking, riding their bikes, and if you don't have crossing guards to help them, it's a free for all."
Parents are particularly worried about kids who attend Trinity Meadows Intermediate and Trinity Springs Middle School. Both schools are near Keller Hicks Road and Alta Vista Road. The intersection has been under construction for months, and some parts of it don't have any sidewalks.
Police will man that intersection for the first couple of weeks, but Fort Worth Officer J.R. Barron says that is just temporary.
"It's very expensive for the city and for the police department to put an officer at an intersection when those officers really should be dealing with other issues," he said.
The department said recruiting people to apply and then train for the position has been difficult. It's a part-time job that pays just $7.49 an hour.
"For the majority, it's mainly people having the time to dedicate to the program," Barron said.
Parents like Colleen Demel are hoping more people will step up. "If somebody could come out and just give of their time, it would be... it could save a life," she said.
If you would like to apply to be a school crossing guard in Fort Worth, contact officer J.R. Barron at 817-925-3304.
E-mail mmoore@wfaa.com
