News
Worthington joins majority in cutting funds for crossing guards
* Only Grandview Heights and Hilliard will pay for guards near schools after Worthington cuts funding.
By ROSEMARY KUBERA
Published: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 9:06 AM EST
Worthington, Hilliard and Grandview Heights are the only Franklin County cities that pay wages to ensure school crossing guards are on duty within their boundaries.

School districts pay guards in most places around the Columbus metropolitan area, a study by Worthington officials found.

Facing a budget crunch, Worthington City Council will opt to stop footing the bill for guards starting in the 2009-10 school year.

Of the three cities, Worthington by far has been paying the most money for crossing guards. Guards in all three cities work an average 10 hours per week, officials said.

Worthington's total cost for six guards in 2008 is $51,246. Of that, $7,500 comes from the school district.

The total this year in Hilliard is $14,440 for four guards.

The cost for five guards this year in Grandview Heights is $11,880.

Neither the Hilliard nor the Grandview Heights school districts contribute funds to defray costs, officials said.

Worthington and Grandview Heights designate the guards as part-time employees. For those employees who choose to contribute to the Public Employees Retirement System, cities by law must contribute 14 percent of wages paid.

In 2007, Hilliard removed its four crossing guards from the city payroll and designated them independent contractors. At the time, Hilliard was in the process of reclassifying all part-timers who worked about 10 hours per week as independent contractors, said Gerry Edwards, Hilliard's human resources director.

Cities are not legally bound to contribute to pension funds for independent contractors, said Edwards. Hilliard increased the hourly wage to entice crossing guards to continue on the job when their status changed at the start of the 2007-08 school year.

Three guards who earned between $7 and $9 hourly received increases to $10 each. A fourth guard received a raise from $10 to $12 per hour, Edwards said.

Two guards quit when the job status changed. Hilliard police took over guard duty until replacements were hired, officials said.

Unlike guards in Worthington who are due for 3 percent raises along with most other city employees there, Hilliard's crossing guards will not receive raises in 2009, Edwards said.

Grandview's crossing guards are not due for raises next year, said Audrey Brodzinski, assistant finance director.

Worthington's top administrators will receive lower raises of 2.5 percent next year, said Gandee.

Although guards in Hilliard and Grandview Heights will continue to earn $8.25 to $12 per hour next year, wages in Worthington will increase from $13.68 to $14.09 for five guards, city officials said.

Though several public elementary schools are located within Hilliard's boundaries, the city employs just four guards -- one for each school where students must cross busy intersections.

Despite requests from parents, the city of Dublin abided by its policy of not providing crossing guards when a Hilliard school district building opened inside its boundaries in 2007. Teachers and staff handle guard duties at that school.

Grandview Heights employs five crossing guards on behalf of that city's small school district. None of Grandview Heights' streets bear the traffic loads seen on major streets in Worthington and Hilliard.

By eliminating crossing guards in the second half of 2009, Worthington will save $12,684, records show.

The city's preliminary budget sets aside $31,072 for guard wages, benefits and uniforms, said Gandee. It has not been determined if the Worthington school district will help defray the cost.

Posts where Worthington's six crossing guards are stationed are: Dublin-Granville Road and Evening Street; Stafford Avenue and Evening Street; Whitney Avenue and Rieber Street; Schrock and Worthington Galena roads; Selby Boulevard and High Street; and Colonial Avenue and Greenwich Street, said Police Chief Michael Mauger.




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