On Thursday, Aug. 2, the City of Mesa Transportation Department is hosting a Regional School Crossing Guard Training Workshop for the East Valley. The training is a part of a regional effort sponsored by Maricopa Association of Governments to improve the safety at school crossings for both crossing guards and students. School crossing guards from the cities of Mesa, Tempe, Scottsdale, Chandler, Gilbert and school districts throughout Maricopa County have been invited to attend. Providing education and training to all school crossing guards in the region is an essential step to ensure that both the guards and the children in their care stay safe.
About 400 school crossing guards are expected to participate in the workshops. All K-8 schools may use the workshops to train their school crossing guards. The responsibility remains with each school for hiring, training, and defining when and where crossing guards are to be on duty.
The training will include essential crossing guard procedures, information on the health and welfare of guards, and resources available from police and fire departments to help the guards ensure the children's safety.
Special sessions will review traffic laws regarding crosswalks, procedures that must be followed in the crosswalks, and proper equipment that guards rely on to perform their duties safely and effectively.
Just as it is important for the crossing guards to know the rules, drivers are reminded to follow them. Adhere to the 15 mph speed limit, stop for crossing guards and wait until they have cleared the roadway before proceeding through a crosswalk, and always exercise caution when driving in school zones.