The jobs were cut last spring as part of the Burnaby School Board’s efforts to make up for a $3 million budget shortfall. The crossing guard program was saved by a one-time $200,000 grant from the publicly-owned Insurance Corporation of British Columbia.
Local president Terry Allen welcomes the return of the crossing guards. But he’s concerned that safety will be jeopardized again if ongoing funding isnt secured. “I was hoping that it wouldn’t be a special grantthat the government would recognize that there clearly is a shortfall in Burnaby, and replace it all.”
Crossing guard and Local 379 member Amy Newman added her own words of warning: “It’s important for people to know this is only a Band-Aid,” says Newman. “It’s only one year. Don’t sit back and relax.”