Crossing guards take to the streets to keep kids safe on busy thoroughfares

Every weekday, Tevin Jacobs’ alarm clock buzzes at 5 a.m. After a quick weather check, Jacobs dresses for the day, grabs her lawn chair and walks to Smith-Cotton Junior High. She arrives at the campus each day at 6:55 a.m. armed with her stop sign and reflective vest to assist the students in crossing the busy intersection at Massachusetts Avenue and Broadway Boulevard.

Jacobs is one of two crossing guards added by Sedalia School District 200 this year to handle intersections at the Sedalia Middle School and the Smith-Cotton Junior High School. The two guards are paid $8.61 an hour by the district.

Seven other crossing guards work at the elementary schools located throughout Sedalia. They are paid the same hourly wage through the City of Sedalia. All guards are trained by the Sedalia Police Department, according to Sedalia Police Chief John DeGonia.

According to the Missouri Department of Transportation’s Safe Routes to School Program, crossing guards are an important part of every school system. Crossing guards discourage children from unsafe behavior near traffic and use existing gaps to help students cross safely. Crossing guards also alert motorists that children are crossing.

Jacobs, a mother of four young boys, said she took the job because the location was convenient to her home and to her day job at Dollar General.

“I didn’t think I would enjoy it,” she said. “But once you get to know the kids, it’s fun.”

Although the pay isn’t huge, Jacobs said it serves as extra spending money.

“I live for my boys,” she said, “and this gives me money to do more fun things with them.”

The crossing guard job also allows her to avoid the cost of childcare for her children, as she works days and her husband works night.

“I start my day at 5 a.m. and end my work day at 5 p.m.,” she said.

Jacobs is easy to spot with her big smile and pink hat and gloves, which she refers to as her “signature.” The students call her “crossing guard” and offer her gum, candy and other snacks.

“The other day I got a piece of gum and a Starburst,” she said. “Now that was a good day.”

But, it isn’t always a great day at the busy intersection. Jacobs said drivers are courteous but impatient.
“I was Enemy No. 1 with my stop sign at first,” Jacobs said, “but drivers have gotten used to me.”

Jacobs, 25, chats easily with the parents and teases the students good-naturedly about their clothes, shoes, backpacks and hair styles. She prods the slower-paced students by promising them free cheeseburgers at Griff’s Hamburgers across the street.

“They know I’m joking,” she said, “but it gets them moving.”

On rainy days, Jacobs can be seen using her umbrella to shield the students instead of herself.

“I’m a full-service crossing guard,” she joked.

Lifetime Sedalia resident Georgie Griffith works the intersection at 19th Street and Ingram Avenue where hordes of students bike and walk to Sedalia Middle School. Griffith, who is in her first year as a crossing guard, said she had thought of applying for years but never did until she saw the ad in the paper for the 2009-10 school year.

“I figured I’d go try it,” she said. “It gives me something to do.”

Griffith said she loves being outside and watching the children.

“I just love it and I love the kids,” she said. Griffith prefers to stand and doesn’t even mind inclement weather. “I can sit at home,” she said.

Griffith, 70, greets each child with, “Hello, dear,” and a warm smile, and she doesn’t mind if the children don’t respond.

“I’m sure some of them are told not to talk to strangers,” she said.

Crossing Guard Roy Schnakenberg, 75, greets Horace Mann Elementary School students by slapping hands.
“I get a few big hugs too,” he said. “They are awful sweet kids.”

Roy and his wife of 19 years, Lois, both have worked as crossing guards for five years. Lois works near Sacred Heart School.

“We do things together,” Lois said.

Roy parks his mini-van on 16th Street, pops the back door and sits and waits for the students who need help crossing. He said he has felt a little lost this year as he watches the students pass.

“My fifth-graders transferred out,” he said.

Lois said the crossing guard job gets them out of the house and provides some extra income as well. But, the best part of the job is the parents, teachers and students.

“The greetings we get just make our day,” she said.