I went before the Traffic and Safety Commission in River Forest recently as a crossing guard with a straightforward request: that an additional crossing guard be assigned to my intersection during school arrival and dismissal to provide another layer of protection for children.
This is a signalized intersection. Children are crossing while vehicles are turning and there have been occasions when drivers have proceeded with turns while the children had the right of way. As one person trying to manage an entire intersection I cannot always be in the exact position where every child is crossing, and there are times when drivers simply do not see me as they are looking to make their turn through oncoming traffic.
I came to the meeting because I believe we should be pro-active about children’s safety rather than wait for something serious to happen. Approximately 80 parents support the request.
What happened at the meeting was deeply disappointing. Rather than having a meaningful discussion about how an additional crossing guard might improve safety, I felt that the very premise of my concern was repeatedly questioned and dismissed. During the discussion, one commissioner made an insulting personal comment about my height. I immediately called him out on it. No apology was offered.
This is not about hurt feelings or getting my way. It is about whether we listen to the people who are actually out there every school day seeing what happens at our intersections. I hope the Traffic and Safety Commission will reconsider the request because when it comes to children’s safety, adding another set of eyes and another layer of protection deserves serious consideration.
And I hope that, going forward, residents and village employees who come before our commissions with legitimate concerns will be met with thoughtful discussion and basic respect. Our children deserve both.
Jayne Gould
River Forest