Tecumseh Town Council will consider whether to phase out its crossing guard program when councillors meet next week.
If councillors move ahead with a recommendation to end the program, they won't do it before the end of the current school year.
The recommendation came up at a council meeting last month, but councillors deferred a decision until Monday night's meeting.
The town employs seven regular crossing guards and four alternates near five elementary schools. Recruiting new ones has proven difficult because the hours are limited to two or two-and-a-half hours a day.
A report to councillors for Monday's meeting suggests the town council save almost $88,000 next year, plus the $27,000 it costs to administer the program.
That's money town staff suggest could be used to install pedestrian crossovers, create more school safety zones, and traffic calming measures.
The report calls for ending crossing guard service at Tecumseh Road and Estate Park, and St.Thomas Street and Michael Drive in June. Service at Tecumseh Road and Arlington Boulevard, and Lesperance Road and St. Thomas Street would end in June 2025, and Lesperance Road at Arbour Street, Lacasse and Clapp Street, and Lacasse and St. Thomas Street in either June 2025 or 2026.
Chatham-Kent phased out its crossing guard program in 2016 and has identified no concerns since.