Getting children safely to school should be the school board's responsibility.
That's Dresden-area councillor Joe Faas' response to a petition asking Chatham-Kent to reinstate a crossing guard to help students cross the road safely on their way to and from Dresden Area Central School.
Faas admits it is a complex issue, but ultimately believes the school board should provide the service.
"I guess they gave it up because of liability issues, but the municipality is now looking at the same liability issues," says Faas. "The school board buses children to school safely because they feel it's their mandate to do that. Why wouldn't they have the same concern about getting them safely across the street?"
Faas adds the municipality is doing its part to make sure students get to school safely, but that doesn't need to include paying for crossing guards.
"The municipality provides sidewalks so students aren't walking on the road and we provide road systems for the buses, surely the school board has some responsibility," says Faas.
But deciding who should be responsible for the crossing guards only scratches the surface of the issue.
Faas says while the current crossing guard is very reliable, it can be difficult to find the right person for the job because it's not a high-paying position and the hours are somewhat sporadic.
Jenelle Jackson-Finley, who started the petition to re-instate the crossing guard position in Dresden, suggested that the municipality could put in a pedestrian crossing with lights, but Faas isn't ready to commit to that right now.
"I'm not sure that's the answer either -- I don't have all the answers," says Faas. "There are a lot of opinions out there as to what should be done."
Faas and fellow North Kent councillor Leon Leclair both say they will be looking into the issue further to make sure students can stay safe while they're going to school.