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Children, parents bid farewell to Rolling Meadows crossing guards

Well wishers offered Janet Corrico gifts of cards and candy on Friday, and it wasn't even her birthday.

Instead, children at Kimball Hill School and their parents wanted to acknowledge her faithful service. Friday was the final day on the job for Corrico, of Rolling Meadows, and six other crossing guards being laid off in order for the city to meet its budget goals.

"She's been absolutely delightful," said Sharon Collins, who presented Corrico with a box of candy. "She's always cheerful, and the kids listen to her and respect her."

It won't be Corrico's last day on the beat, however. She'll no longer be paid, but she and two other guards have agreed to work as volunteers until Rolling Meadows and District 15 agree on a new program.

"They've got a new principal this year, so they have enough changes," Corrico said of the Kimball Hill students. "The kids like to see the same crossing guards at the corners."

In a below zero wind chill, Corrico crossed nearly 100 children Friday as they left school to head for the waiting cars.

During the spring, she figures she crosses more than 400 children. She estimates more than 500 cars go through the intersection of Meadows Drive and South Street.

Katie Hidalgo, 10, is one of Corrico's regulars. She vividly recalled last Halloween, when Corrico decorated her corner, and offered candy to her walkers.

"We're going to miss our crossing guards," Hidalgo said wistfully.

Some parents were equally unhappy, but not for sentimental reasons. Tom Mathias of Rolling Meadows sees the cost-cutting move as short sighted.

"They say they have to save money," Mathias said, "but as soon as one kid gets hurt, it's going to cost them a lot more."

Rolling Meadows Mayor Kenneth Nelson confirmed that city officials are working with Palatine Township Elementary District 15 administrators to come up with a program to replace the crossing guards. However by Friday, no agreement had been reached.

In the meantime, city officials have asked the crossing guards to come back as volunteers until a new program had been devised, and of the seven, three agreed, including Corrico.

The other intersections will be staffed by police or community service officers, who have been observing crossing guards all week.

Students have crossed with Bill Struck for more than six years at Meadows Drive and Kirchoff Road, near the Rolling Meadows Shopping Center. But even with a stoplight and left turn signal, he says motorists are careless.

"They don't stop. Some of them blow right through the crosswalk," Struck said. "They're talking on their cell phones and they're not looking."

Struck says over the years he has become acquainted with his regular students, and he has watched them grow up.

"You get to know them," he says. "They're good kids."

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