Response to Councilor Inquiry on crossing guards item 212860 1-31-202 — File 22-0310

Charles Femino Chief of Police To: Honorable City Council Members From: Police Chief Charles Femino Date: January 31, 2022 Re: Agenda Item 212860 That the Director of Human Resources and the Chief of Police update this Council on the staffing of crossing guards, including how many of the vacant positions have been filled and the process to determine which school crossing locations get staffed first. Please accept this communication in response to the above referenced Agenda Item 212860. The issues of recruitment, selection, and retention of crossing guards to staff various locations in the City warrants further discussion. There are 35 crossing guards that are employed by the City of Somerville. However, five of these crossing guards are currently not available for a variety of reasons. There are 33 designated locations of which twenty-seven are considered “primary locations.” The remaining six locations are considered “secondary locations.” Secondary locations are staffed only when there are sufficient personnel available. All locations require a morning shift and an afternoon shift when the children are coming out of school. To compound the issue of staffing shortages, there are several crossing guards that only work one of the two shifts on a particular day. Most streets that are contiguous with a school are prioritized and usually have a crossing guard assigned for crossing pedestrains. Some outer perimeter locations where a crossing guard would be considered and/or posted is based on a specific request from an outside source, as well as further assessment of that location. This assessment involves observing a location over several days and different shifts. Factors that might be considered include: • Motor vehicle traffic flow • Traffic congestion • Head count to determine how many elementary grade level school children use that crossing location without being accompanied by an adult. I have participated in a remote meeting with Superintendent of Schools Mary Skipper and other City officials on ways to address the shortage of crossing guards needed in the City. I have attached a list of the current locations that are staffed throughout the City. Please contact me directly with any questions or concerns. City of Somerville Police Department 220 Washington Street Somerville, MA 02143 [phone removed] www.somervillepd.com