No Crossing Guards For Dozens Of OKC Schools

The first day of classes for Oklahoma City Public Schools is Wednesday, but as parents prepare, many do not know that dozens of schools in Oklahoma City will not have crossing guards. That news is sparking safety concerns and frustration among parents.

More than 40 crosswalks in the city will be left unattended. Children will be forced to deal with the streets alone. Every parent News 9 spoke with Tuesday had no idea their school would not have a crossing guard.

"I'm just afraid for the children," Oklahoma City resident Jeri Liggett said. "[There are] danger zones. If they don't have somebody … that is going to be a problem."

Those danger zones are four lane roads like Pennsylvania Avenue, Western Avenue and Classen Boulevard.

The guards are hired through Oklahoma City police. The department says it needs 40 more guards to cover 36 schools in five of the city's school districts. Those districts include Oklahoma City, Edmond, Moore, Deer Creek and Putnam City.

"[We've] been trying to fill these positions for some time now," Capt. Dexter Nelson with Oklahoma City police said. "[We] just haven't had any luck."

Notices have been out for the past month for a job that pays just $15 a day.

"I'm sure we could probably attract more people if we paid more," Nelson said.

Community members agree.

"They better pay them a decent wage so there is somebody out there to protect the lives of their children," Liggett said.

Parents in one northwest Oklahoma City neighborhood would not go on camera but say they will need to find alternate ways to get their children to school. That's because Classen Avenue runs in between their homes and Horace Mann Elementary.

If you are interested in becoming a crossing guard, contact Oklahoma City police at (405)-297-1180.

See a list of the schools that currently do not have crossing guards.