Seven crossing guards losing their jobs in Rolling Meadows

Rolling Meadows officials said Friday they are laying off seven school crossing guards to help the city meet its budget goals.

The guards' final day is Friday, Jan. 30. City officials are working to ensure all intersections are covered until a new program is worked out.

"Our interim plan is to have people at those intersections, whether it be CSOs (community service officers) or police officers," City Manager Sarah Phillips said. "We're trying to get through our budget and work with the schools in the next few months to put a program in place."

Deputy Police Chief Dave Scanlan said police met with officials from Palatine Township Elementary District 15 Friday and discussed several options. He said District 15 could have a role in a new plan, though the district traditionally has left that job to local police.

Jack Reif, a 13-year crossing guard who covers Meadow Drive and Campbell Street, got the city's layoff notice Thursday night. "I don't know how they got in this position, but we are putting the kids at risk," he said. "I worry about them."

Reif says he has counted 350 cars at his intersection during one shift, some of the drivers talking on cell phones, drinking coffee or rolling through the stop signs.

Scanlan assured that the corners won't be left empty after Jan. 30.

"We will have somebody there," he said. "But these terminations are going to happen no matter what."

Whether the guards are rehired depends on the city council, he added.

The layoffs come as the city considers joining Northwest Central Dispatch, a cooperative police dispatch service based in Arlington Heights. The move would save $1.8 million over three years, but the council would decide how the money is used. The guards are paid $6,600 to $12,300 annually each.

More discussion is planned for the council's next meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 27.

Kimball Hill Elementary Interim Principal David Corbett said Friday dropping the crossing guards would be a mistake.

"The one right outside the school is huge," he said. "We have a lot of walkers. It makes sense to have someone there."

Two other crossings for Kimball Hill - at Meadow Drive and Kirchoff Road and at Meadow and Campbell - have guards morning and afternoon as well.

"We want to make sure things are safe," Corbett said.

Other Rolling Meadows school crossings are at Meadow Drive and Grouse Lane and at Grouse and Jay Lane near St. Colette School. A sixth is near Central Road Elementary at Brookmeade Drive and Central Road.

Phillips said the schools that use crossing guards will send fliers home to parents on Monday explaining the city's options.