Police will no longer hire, manage crossing guards for schools
Manchester NH July 13 2020
The Manchester police department will no longer be responsible for school crossing guards after a month-long battle over who should pay their bill for the time schools were closed for COVID-19.
City school board members recently voted to send the bill for hours not worked by crossing guards back to the city — specifically, the police department — for payment. The department has since paid the bill, for $26,637.99 for 1,750 hours worked in April.
Several school board members argued that the crossing guards are contracted through the Manchester Police Department and therefore should be considered city employees.
That won’t be the case in the future. Police Chief Carlo Capano sent a letter to school officials informing them his department will no longer take part in the hiring or management of crossing guards.
In a letter to Superintendent John Goldhardt dated July 1, Capano wrote he plans to help the school district with training of crossing guards “in an attempt to make this as seamless as possible.”
“The Manchester Police Department has made numerous requests over the years to turn over this program to the school district, you have always indicated that you have no interest in taking this over,” Capano said.
“We have graciously taken on this task for several years, and I believe it is time for the school department to take over this responsibility, much like other school districts handle,” Capano wrote.
“The recent situation of the work completed by the crossing guards is a perfect example of why the school district should be in charge of this program. Each school will be better equipped to manage the needs of each crossing area rather than the police department.”
Capano said his department will continue to contract with the school district to provide school resource officers, but that contract will not include language on crossing guards.
Union Leader
