Crossing guards hot issue in Dist. 203

Should Naperville Community District 203 have to sacrifice a teacher so the city's police department doesn't have to lose any more police officers?

That's an interesting discussion that's bound to be had in coming days by district Superintendent Mark Mitrovich and police officials in the wake of police asking the city to begin paying $85,000 a year for crossing guard service at 10 district intersections. The guards were previously supplied from the city's budget.

The move comes on the heels of the police department attempting to balance it's budget by eliminating 10 sworn officer positions earlier this month.

The thought of one taxing body attempting to "balance it's budget on the backs of another" fired up some school board members Tuesday night and sparked a debate over whether public safety provided by the guards is even the responsibility of the district.

Superintendent Mark Mitrovich said he would like to avoid any conflict with the police but believes there's more negotiating to be done.

"I think the reality is that when you have diminishing resources, and every agency is feeling the push for that, you look for other sources," Mitrovich said. "I regret the fact that it is impacted on our police department because we hold them in the highest regard and the quality of service they provide us is outstanding. But the reality is this is something that came down on the police department because of issues the city council is dealing with, not unlike the expectation that we have to present a balanced budget."

Board member Dave Weeks was flat out insulted by the department's request.

"This is a public service in my opinion because I see a difference between the in-school resource officers and kids crossing the public streets coming to the schools. That's a public safety issue and that's a traffic issue," he said. "That's the responsibility of the police department. I mean they don't charge me extra to drive through Cress Creek when times get tough. I really don't see this as our responsibility."

Board member Jim Dennison thanked Weeks for speaking out but didn't know what other options were available to the district.

"I happen to agree (with Weeks) but I think we're between a rock and a hard place here. I think we have to go ahead with this request," Dennison said. "I'm hoping there are people in the city watching this tonight and getting the message loud and clear."

That message Weeks said is that the district contributes to the high property values in the district, which in turn funds the department.

"Once revenues are back up, sales tax is back up and cars are selling, do you think they're going to take it back?" Weeks asked. "Of course not. So it comes down to whose responsibility is it?"

Vice President Jackie Romberg also requested more information as to why the department felt this was the district's responsibility.

There were no police department representatives at Monday's meeting and the topic was tabled until the district's February business meeting.