Liability concerns spark removal of traffic guards at schools

After providing officers for traffic control at seven Iredell-Statesville Schools for a number of years, a local security company recently discontinued the practice.

"It's purely a business decision," said Donna Campbell, owner of Wilson Security.

Wilson Security guards have directed traffic and helped students and parents cross the streets safely at seven schools for several years.

As of last week, the guards are no longer directing traffic at the schools. The guards are still in place at the high schools and will be used for sporting events and other activities.

Campbell said the decision to discontinue traffic control guards was a difficult one.

"I'd love to keep doing it. I'm not bailing out," she said.

Campbell said problems with having guards in the streets directing traffic came to light a couple of weeks ago.

A safety compliance officer for the N.C. Department of Labor who was dropping off her child at Coddle Creek Elementary became concerned about compliance issues involving the traffic control guard, Campbell said.

The main problem that surfaced at that time was the vest the man was wearing, she said. It wasn't approved for use when it was dark, and at that time, it was still dark prior to the start of school.

That led to a risk assessment, and Campbell said some of the issues that came to light made it financially impossible to keep the guards directing traffic.

"It's too much of a business risk for me," she said.

Campbell said she's already paid out more than $500,000 in claims when three different guards were injured while directing traffic.

"I cannot take another hit," she said. "That would put 70 employees at risk of losing their jobs."

I-SS Interim Superintendent Brady Johnson said the use of traffic control guards dates back six or seven years.

Heavy traffic on Brawley School Road made it nearly impossible for buses to get out of the parking lot at Brawley Middle School.

At that time, Wilson Security was already providing guards at the high schools and for afterschool events, and they agreed to put someone at the school in the morning and afternoon to help, Johnson said.

Other school officials said they were experiencing the same issues, and eventually the service was expanded to Shepherd, Celeste Henkel, Coddle Creek, Lake Norman Elementary, Mt. Mourne and, in the afternoons only, Lake Norman High School.

One grandparent, Colleen Dishman, said she's concerned that the guards are not in place.

"It is affecting the safety of our children," she said.

Johnson said the lack of traffic control officers has created some problems.

"Traffic is not flowing as smoothly as it did. It's frustrating. Most of the folks are understanding. We are trying to find a solution to this," he said.

Ron Hargrave, interim associate superintendent, sent a letter to parents this week about the situation.

In the letter he said he hopes this is a temporary situation. "I am certain that when all the paperwork is in order, our traffic officers will resume their duties of ensuring that students, parents and employees may enter and exit our schools in a safe and orderly manner," he wrote.

Johnson said the school system is exploring other options.

Steve Hampton, the safe schools coordinator for I-SS, said the idea of hiring and training guards is being considered as the option of another company providing the service.

The problem is recruiting people interested in working one to two hours in the morning and an hour in the afternoon, Johnson said.

"There are not a whole lot of people willing to do that," he said.

The guards are paid at a rate of $13 an hour, Hampton said.

Using on-duty law enforcement is not a possibility, said Iredell County Sheriff Phil Redmond.

All of the seven schools are in the county's jurisdiction.

Redmond said that with the regular duties his deputies are required to perform, from answering criminal and civil complaints to running the detention center, they do not have the manpower.

Using off-duty law enforcement is also not an option — largely due to cost, Johnson said.

The pay rate for an off-duty law enforcement officer ranges from $20 to $25 per hour.

Just how long the seven schools will be without traffic guards depends on what option the system ultimately chooses, Hargrave said.

He said it could be as little as a week or as long as three weeks.

Hampton said those positions will be opened up to the public, and training and equipment will be provided, if the system goes that route.

Hargrave said he understands the decision made by Campbell.

"Wilson Security has been a good partner with us. They provide us a valuable service," he said.