Slidell needs more school crossing guards

By Erik Sanzenbach
St. Tammany News
Published on Monday, September 22, 2008 9:04 AM CDT

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Wanted: 10 new school crossing guards for the schools in Slidell.

Slidell Chief of Police Freddie Drennan appealed to the public for school crossing guards at the last City Council meeting.

“We need them desperately, folks,” Drennan said.

School Crossing Guard Michelle Pichon stops traffic so that students from Brock Elementary School can cross Third St. after school is let out Wednesday afternoon. (Staff Photo by Erik Sanzenbach)

School crossing guards are hired by the Slidell Police Department, and police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz said keeping a full complement of crossing guards is a continuing problem.

“We never have had a full staff of crossing guards,” Foltz said.

That presents a problem, because not all of Slidell’s 19 school districts will have crossing guards stationed at crosswalks in the morning and afternoon.

Traffic Control Supervisor Nina Tetlow said there are currently eight crossing guards for the 19 school districts, and it does present problems.

“We roll them over from district to district,” Tetlow said. “We do get it done with what we have.”

Tetlow has been a school crossing guard for 20 years and said the personnel shortage has been a problem for the past three years. She blames the shortage on Hurricane Katrina.

“Some of the crossing guards evacuated for the storm and never came back,” Tetlow said.

The school crossing guard is a part-time position, and guards only work in the morning and afternoon during the school year. Tetlow said an applicant has to be over 18 and, “healthy enough to stand in the heat.” She said most of her guards are senior citizens, but they are able to withstand hot temperatures.

Anyone interested in becoming a school crossing guard can apply at the Log Cabin in John Slidell Park on Robert Boulevard from 9 to 11 a.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

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