JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There could be more crossing guards outside Jacksonville schools if a bill eventually passes in Tallahassee, which many parents said they support.
If Bill J-1 were to pass, crossing guards would be mandatory for any schools with grades kindergarten through 8th -- not just at elementary schools.
Currently, elementary schools are the only schools that the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office assigns crossing guards to secure safety. It's determined which of those schools get crossing guards based on car traffic, pedestrian traffic, posted speed and the type of intersection.
Many parents and city leaders don't believe crossing guards are needed at high schools, but they think middle schoolers are so young they need protection.
"Children at those ages don't really know how to cross the street," said Laila Daniel, a parent of three. "So having somebody there to assess them to get from point A to point B is a pretty good thing."
Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Brown told News4Jax by phone on Friday that he supports crossing guards at more schools, but said City Council needs more clarification on the bill sponsored by state Rep. Kimberly Daniels, D-Jacksonville -- specifically whether the bill includes charter and private schools.
City councilman Tommy Hazouri suggested getting general counsel’s opinions on how the charter schools should be treated.
The City Council auditor estimates it would cost an additional $300,000 to hire the additional guards. But the city traffic engineer said the costs for signage, pavement markings, etc. would considerably add to that $300,000.
It is now known yet where the $300,000 would come from. But Brown said he's recommending the City Council consider an increase in parking fines to help pay for it.
Stacy Scott-Morrell, a mother of nine and a grandmother of 21, told News4Jax she would support the bill.
"I encourage them to really take it seriously because it's our kids, our future generation going to school and coming from school and we would like for them to get there safe and to get back home safe," Scott-Morrell said.
Chief Leonard Proper with JSO said it’s difficult to recruit and retain the 300-plus crossing guards who are paid $9 for two hours a day.
Duval County School Board member Lori Hershey told News4Jax that the School Board does not support the bill because members were not consulted when the bill was proposed.
School board members feel the following schools have safety problems: Landon Middle, Merrill Road Elementary, Woodland Acres Elementary, Sabal Palms Elementary, Landmark Middle, Twin Lakes Academy, Duval Chart School and Mayport Elementary.
The School Safety Committee decided earlier this week that school zones and crossing guards are a local issue that doesn’t need to be addressed by the state legislation, so they feel the bill is unnecessary.
Also, the Florida Department of Transportation's speed zoning manual is currently being rewritten and some standards are changing. The new edition will include a requirement for flashing beacons at school crossings.
News4Jax also reached out to the office of Daniels, who will carry out the bill in Tallahassee, but has yet to hear back.