Today is the last day of school for municipally-paid crossing guards in Chatham-Kent.
Chatham-Kent council voted earlier this year to phase out the program as of December 1, opting to install automated crosswalks at several of the crossings instead.
Municipal officials say they are aware that some community groups are providing assistance, and in some cases organizing volunteers to help kids cross the street, but those crossing guards are not municipal employees and don't have any special authority. That means anyone who is acting as a crossing guard won't be able to walk out and stop traffic.
It also means that any volunteers or paid crossing guards who step up to do the job, won't receive any supervision or insurance coverage from the municipality. They won't be screened or trained by the municipality either.
A release from the municipality says it's up to parents to ensure their children reach school safely, adding that both children and adults -- even crossing guards -- need to obey traffic laws.
Several communities, including Dresden, are set to receive pedestrian crossing devices, but they aren't expected to be installed until May or June in 2017.