Madison Celebrates Adult Crossing Guard Recognition Week

The State of Wisconsin has declared the week of February 19th Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week. The City of Madison would like to recognize the 58 dedicated Crossing Guards who brave the elements to ensure students walk safely to and from school.

February’s challenging winter weather does not stop this dedicated group. No matter what the conditions, adult crossing guards are at their posts ensuring that children and families make it across the street safely.

“Winter weather can pose challenging hazards for pedestrians. Our crossing guards are trained to recognize and mitigate these risks to provide safe passage,” said Alex Stewart, Crossing Guard Supervisor. “Crossing Guard Appreciation Week is an opportunity for us to elevate and champion their important work helping keep our children and families safe.”

You can show your appreciation by giving a wave of recognition or saying thank you. However, the best way to recognize our Crossing Guards is to know what to do when approaching a school crossing guard:

• Slow down (especially if roads are snow or ice covered!)
• Remember to watch for signs alerting you to slower speeds in School Zones.
• Approach cautiously, as children may be at or near a crossing.
• When a guard raises their stop sign, stop at least 10 feet back and stay stopped until both the children AND the crossing guard have reached the curb.

Everyone can help by staying alert!

Follow us on the City of Madison Traffic and Parking Facebook page this week as we feature some of our Adult School Crossing Guards from various schools throughout the city.  Get to know them as they answer some hard-hitting questions direct from playground!

To find out more about the City of Madison Crossing Guard program or to apply to become a Crossing Guard, visit our Crossing Guard Webpage.