Crossing guards have lives of children in their sights
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer

SCOTT PILLING staff Crossing guard Marta Flores helps a pair of Freehold Borough students cross the intersection of Park Avenue and South Street. Flores is one of the crossing guards who help make students' daily trips to and from school safer.

FREEHOLD - Marta Flores is happy about her new job. She loves children and needs a little extra money, so her position as a school crossing guard will address both.

Flores is one of 10 school crossing guard who can be seen on duty in the borough, which is one of only a few towns in the area where children regularly walk to school. Some of the crossing guards have been on duty for years, helping children to reach school safely each morning and to return home without a problem in the afternoon.

The job is one which involves great responsibility, according to Freehold Borough police officer Sean Healey.

"Crossing guards play a vital role in our town," said Healey, who is the borough's traffic safety officer. "They help to ensure the safety of our children as the youngsters walk to and from school. We just don't have the manpower for our regular police officers to accomplish this job."

Freehold Borough

The criteria to become a school crossing guard requires applicants to have a flexible schedule and be able to work from 7:15-8:45 a.m. and from 2-3:30 p.m.

"We want them physically fit and with good vision as well," Healey said, noting that the police department likes crossing guards to have a driver's license as well.

The process of becoming a crossing guard requires a New Jersey State Police background check which includes fingerprinting and a criminal history check.

Training begins at police headquarters where prospective crossing guards watch a video prepared by the Department of Law and Safety. After watching the video they begin their practical training with Healey, who will accompany them to an intersection where they will learn the ropes of being a good crossing guard.

Flores began her duties on Sept. 13, about a week after school opened for the new year. She waited with Healey by her side for children to reach the intersection of South Street and Park Avenue. At about 2:30 p.m. the first of many children were within sight. Flores readied herself, admitted she was a bit nervous, headed out into the crosswalk with Healey at just the right time and then held up her stop sign so the children were able to cross the street safely.

"I always get a little nervous when I try something new," she said.

Flores quickly got the hang of the job and ventured out into the crosswalk with more confidence each time children came to the corner on their way home from school.

Healey said a crossing guard's practical training usually takes several hours at a crosswalk.

Flores got lucky, depending on how you view the situation. She was trained at the intersection of Park Avenue and South Street which is, according to Healey, the busiest and most difficult crosswalk in the borough.

"She's jumping in with both feet," Healey said. "After this one she'll be a pro."

Healey said he meets with the crossing guards at the beginning of each school year. The training video is shown, rules are reviewed, and problems and other school related information are discussed.

The narrator of the video emphasizes that the job of a crossing guard involves a great responsibility. Although crossing guards do not have the power to arrest anyone, they serve as an authority figure and children rely on them.

At present, there is a full staff of crossing guards in the borough. Flores, who got her feet wet last week, is working as a substitute crossing guard.