Crossing guards in short supply

Thursday, Aug. 21, 2003 | 9:29 a.m.

With the start of the school year just days away, Clark County School District needs at least 25 more crossing guards to try to make sure children aren't run over while traversing streets around schools.

Helen Lawhon, coordinator of the district's crossing guards, said between 25 and 40 additional people are needed for the start of classes Monday. The job pays $17.30 a day for about 30 minutes of work in the morning and 30 minutes in the afternoon, Lawhon said.

In the meantime, the district is trying to get the word out to motorists, parents and students that they need to do all they can to prevent traffic tragedies around schools.

Fourth grader Amanda Moore took part in a school district traffic safety demonstration Wednesday out side Kahre Elementary School on West Gowan Road.

"Look both ways before you cross the street," Amanda warned her fellow students. "You have to do it every time."

And Clark County School Board member Denise Brodsky had a message for motorists:

"Slow down, take a deep breath and watch our for the kids -- yours and everyone else's. There's always a lot of confusion and extra traffic at the start of school, and that means being extra cautious and aware."

More than 1,100 traffic citations were issued last year around school sites, said Darnell Couthern, spokesman for the Clark County School District Police.

Children often believe that if they can see a car coming, the driver has also noticed them, said Sean Comey, spokesman for AAA Nevada.

"Unfortunately, that's not always the case," said Comey, who shared safety tips with students at Wednesday's event. "That's why we want to remind everyone who gets behind the wheel to use extra care. Every kid needs to get to and from school safely."

A quarter of all children 14 and younger who die in motor vehicle crashes are pedestrians, Comey said. The majority of the fatalities occur in the afternoon hours following school, Comey said.