Sarnia Council has given the green light to cut back or remove crossing guard service altogether at some school crossings.
A total of seven amendments to the city's school crossing guard program were approved Monday.
City Engineer Andre Morin told council the areas involved were assessed twice last year, in June and December, and in some cases no students were using the service at lunch.
"There's sill service or a crossing guard in the morning and at dismissal," said Morin. "But they've eliminated the lunch because there are no children crossing at lunch. The lunch patterns are changing. Many schools have gone to a balanced day where they have two smaller lunch breaks and I believe most, if not all, principals don't allow the students to leave the property."
According to staff's report, the decision to cut back or remove crossing guard service may be made for a number of reasons, including; school closures, boundary changes, a change in traffic patterns or in some cases the minimum number of students using the crossing is no longer met.
The following guarded crossings were removed:
- Christina St. and Durand St. and all times associated with it.
- Confederation St. and Ontario St. and all times associated with it.
- the lunch two time at Bradford Dr. and Murphy Rd.
- the lunch two time at Willa Dr. and Kember Ave.
- the lunch two time at Oak Ave. and Indian Rd.
- the lunch one and lunch two time at Murphy Rd. and Leckie Dr.
- the lunch one time at the guarded crossing at Cathcart Blvd. and Grace Ave.