FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Springfield City Council and the Springfield School Board met Wednesday evening to review a proposal regarding school crossing guard services. A committee comprised of both City and school district staff had put together a recommendation to contract with a third-party vendor that specializes in school crossing guard services. The program is currently administered by Springfield Police Department at 27 locations with the city limits and the school district administers the program at 7 locations outside the city limits. The City and district received five responses to a joint request for proposal (RFP) and unanimously agreed on one selection. Mayor Bob Stephens opened the meeting by commending the current school crossing guards and reminded the group began discussing for the purpose of improving the current program. “While we have many hard-working, dedicated school crossing guards, we also know there are sometimes gaps in coverage that both organizations scramble to fill. There must be a better way to provide back up. We as a community can do better. In fact, our citizens expect us to do better. And that’s why we’re here this evening . . . to work together toward a long-term solution,” he said. The proposal included split-funding the cost of the program between the City and school district 50/50. The cost would be $140,000 per year for providing crossing guards at the 27 locations inside the City limits. The contract could be held by either the City or the school district, or both. The group quickly reached consensus to contract with a third party service. The decision how to fund the proposal and how to administer the contract were left undecided. Both groups acknowledged that the current bid is only effective until Nov. 18. School Board President Denise Frederick said the board would discuss this further at an Oct. 7 study sessions. # # # For more information, contact: Cora Scott, Director of Public Information & Civic Engagement, 417-864-1009 (office) | 417-380-3352 (cell), [email protected]