Green Bay will not outsource crossing guards www.privateofficer.com
The Green Bay City Council on Wednesday rejected a plan to outsource all crossing guard positions to Per Mar Security Services of Davenport, Iowa.
The move would have saved the city about $40,000 a year.
But crossing guards opposed the change, and aldermen voiced concern that the city would be cutting corners in an area that involves the safety of school children.
Alderman Jesse Brunette said he is impressed by the work of the city’s 44 crossing guards, who are employed through the police department at about $12 an hour.
“They do an outstanding job with the protection of our children,” Brunette said.
City staffers had proposed the outsourcing as a cost-saving measure intended to help close a $700,000 deficit in the city’s 2012 budget. Represented by the Teamsters Union, crossing guards cost the city about $380,000 a year.
Crossing guard Jerry Krausert, who serves students at Elmore Elementary School, said he feared that Per Mar would cut salaries and shift guards away from their chosen schools.
Krausert was relieved aldermen had killed the outsourcing idea.
“I feel great,” he said.
Alderman Tom Sladek proposed sending the issue back to committee for more discussion. But others on the council said they were eager to decide the issue.
With the school year ending, Alderman Joe Moore said, “It makes no sense to have these people walking on eggshells all summer.”
Source:green bay gazette
