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twitterParents rally to kindly school volunteer told to take a walk
After 24 years, Frank Perone told it’s against rules to volunteer as crossing guard without Metro Police supervision
Sam Morris
Frank Perone stands Thursday near Wasden Elementary School, where he served as a volunteer crossing guard for more than 20 years.
Friday, Oct. 2, 2009 | 2 a.m.
Wasden Elementary School
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Frank Perone stood across the street from Wasden Elementary School nearly every school day, morning and afternoon, for 24 years.
That makes Perone, now 77, the longest-serving crossing guard in the Clark County School District. Or he was, until the school year began Aug. 24, and Scott Du Chateau, Wasden’s new principal, told Perone his services would no longer be needed.
The reason: Perone has been volunteering all these years, and that’s against School District rules, which don’t allow volunteer crossing guards under district supervision, according to district spokesman David Sheehan.
Perone could work under Metro Police, but Du Chateau would have to request this arrangement, Metro Police Community Service Supervisor Helen Lawhon says.
In the meantime, Perone can’t take up the post he had manned since three of his own children went to Wasden in the mid-1980s.
It appears to be an example of a bureaucratic institution out of touch with everyday people. Some families with decades of connection to Wasden lament the passing of an earlier time, when schools, and the entire valley, were smaller.
Thursday morning, Perone shows a visitor his post, and why he is needed there.
He describes children weaving in front of cars, drivers going too fast. That’s why he has a gold whistle around his neck, a gift from parents, the initials “FJP” engraved near the mouthpiece. Most of the students greet him with “Good morning, Mr. Perone.”
Alberto Lombardo walks up, Starbucks cup in one hand, his fourth grade son Oliver’s fingers in the other. They stop for Oliver to give a hug to the grandfatherly Perone.
It’s been nearly a month since an unlikely cast has tried to bring Perone back to this spot in his former role, including state Assemblyman Harvey Munford, who represents Perone’s neighborhood; District Court Judge Donald Mosley, whose son went to Wasden and also greeted Perone every morning and afternoon for years; the Rancho Manor Neighborhood Association; and hundreds of parents.
Munford has met with Du Chateau and district area superintendent Monte Bay. Perone has talked to Lawhon, who has known Perone 17 years. Lawhon supervises the valley’s several dozen volunteer guards and 380 paid crossing guards, who earn $8.91 an hour. Metro would be glad to pay him, but Wasden already has crossing guards about a block away, Lawhon said, so there’s no opening for him.
Besides, Perone really only wants his old spot, in front of the school, where parents drop off their children in a narrow roadway, creating chaos. And Lawhon would take him on as an official volunteer, but again, that’s the principal’s call.
As the bureaucracy turns, Lombardo deploys his own activism. He put a sign on a fence across the street from the school that directed supporters to send e-mail to “whereisfrank09@yahoo.com.” He got 530 responses, from families with children currently in the school and alumni spread across the valley. Those alumni include Lombardo’s nieces and nephews, now in their 20s, who also crossed the street under Perone’s guidance as children.
The sign was taken down.
Sheehan says that while “the district encourages volunteerism ... there are certain rules that we have to follow to protect everybody.” But Sheehan doesn’t know when the district created the rule cited in Perone’s case, or why it is being enforced now. The district did not make Wasden Principal Du Chateau available for comment.
Thomas Herman, who has studied families, children and communities at San Diego State University’s geography department, says the scenario is a “classic case ... of the heavy-handed tools available to a bureaucracy that treat every situation as the same and don’t value the person-to-person bonds so important to a community.”
Herman says the case is especially important because “elementary schools are among the few places left where the community participates.”
Those bonds Herman speaks of are apparent Thursday morning as Wendy White pulls up with her daughter, Elizabeth, a fourth grader who has been crossing the street under Perone’s watchful eye since kindergarten.
“Just stand here and you’ll see everyone is driving carefully, being polite,” White says. “When he’s not here, it’s different.”
She, too, attended Wasden, before Perone’s arrival. But her little brothers and sisters went to school under his watch. She gives Perone Christmas cards every year. She remembers when he was missing once or twice in years past, out sick with a flu. Back then “the principal would send around a get-well card for parents to sign,” she says.
Nearby, Louie Alvarez, whose daughter, Vanessa, is in the fifth grade, says he has seen children nearly get hit by cars twice in the few weeks since Perone’s been off his post.
“They need him back,” says Jewell Hoskins, whose grandson, Camdon Newcomb, is a Wasden second grader. Getting rid of Perone “doesn’t make sense,” Hoskins adds.
Meanwhile, Perone obviously misses his routine, and the children. “I still go there, park in the same place and watch my kids,” he says.
Munford’s interest in helping bring him back goes beyond representing the interests of constituents. He taught history in the School District for 35 years, until 2005.
During that time, he saw the district “lose compassion for people, for the public. It’s too big and the little guy, families, can’t be heard.”
Perone’s family also includes eight grandchildren who have attended Wasden. After all this time, he said, “I feel like I’ve been betrayed.”
Discussion: 29 comments so far…
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Seems like Wasdens new principle, Scott Du Chatueau, is nothing more than a scumbag punk that is trying to impress people with his new position.
Very sad. It gives Mr. Perone purpose and the kids get to see the spirit of volunteerism. I'm at a loss for words.
Here we have a citizen trying to donate his time for the safety of children and you have a school district that will no allow it, i don't get it. If a child get's hurt crossing the street it's Du Chatueau's fault!
And "they" wonder why volunteerism in Nevaduh is lower than anywhere else.
The article says, "Perone could work under Metro Police, but Du Chateau would have to request this arrangement, Metro Police Community Service Supervisor Helen Lawhon says." It does not say that Du Chateau has refused to do this. Why not just put your efforts into trying to diplomatically make this request?
Consider: If any school crossing guard were to ever exploit one of the children in any way, and you learned that the guard was strictly voluntary, you would be totally up in arms about the lack of security and other preventive measures that should have been taken in order to avoid that. (And no, for heaven's sake, I am NOT saying any such thing about Mr. Perone. I'm speaking in principle.)
It seems to me that, as a new school principal, Du Chateau has a moral and legal obligation to ensure that any person who is going to interact with children must at least pass proper credential checks and so on. And being new, he of course would not have the knowledge of all the circumstances regarding Mr. Perone's long, reputable volunteerism.
But we also read of teachers and other adults who have sexually exploited children via their positions and proximity to children. And we always scream, "how come no one saw this coming? Why were there no poicies in place to avoid this?"
So, does Du Chateau get to do his job or not? It doesn't sound to me like he's a mere uncaring bureaucrat; it sounds like someone who is properly enforcing rules that are supposed to protect the children who may not be lucky enough to have a Mr. Perone to look after their best interests. Why vilify Du Chateau for doing what most reasonable people would expect of a person who oversees his school?
this is sad that the principal isn't following the process with metro to allow someone to volunteer.
If Frank can't volunteer his work, why don't they pay him for his services?
Why are these educrats so damned stupid. DuChateau sounds like a complete moron.
Those who fought to kick Perone out should be very carefully scrutinized.
Another stupid move in Las Vegas, first tearing up all the freeways at once and now turning away a nice person who just wants to help and protect. Your city sucks!
While shocking, this story does not suprise me.
For the last two years I've attended several CCSD Trusttee Meetings, AZAC Meetings and Bond Oversight Meetings. I've offered my help and have watched others offer their help to CCSD several times for FREE just like this guy.
CCSD wants no part of it. They would rather pay for services and claim to be broke.
The only thing this district want parents to do is join the PTA so they can feed and control the lies they peddle. Thus brainwashing parents and other volunteers.
This district is not broke. Far from it. Read an accountibiltiy report from 2009. They spend on average over $7,000 per pupil not including construction costs. It's there, black and white. Private schools can get the job done for 4K to 6K per kid. But CCSD can't.
Some schools get upwards of 11 to 14K per kid in the title 1 areas and the kids still aren't learning.
I say all this because the foolishness ties directly to this story. The administrators and Trustee's are foolish and just do not know what they are doing.
Maybe its better if there was a crack dealer there,instead of this careing man?It is indeed without a doubt this man is more than respected with the people he has come in contact with,and with after 20 years service,is more than qualified for the job!If this new principle had taken the time to meet him in person,and listened to feedback from other folk things might be different?To the meat of my post,What the hell is happening to vegas?With all the doom and gloom we have been reading about this town the past few weeks,now comes something like this.After 20 years,Thanks,but no thanks!I hope the line grows even longer now of volunteers see'ing there welcomed so well!I for one have dealt with you people with my own children in CCSD,and if you ask me,the people running the show are the ones in need of that little yellow bus that pick s you up at your house!It seems to be the only thing they could get right!!!
Yeah, it's all fun and games until one of your kids gets hit by a car because an untrained volunteer doesn't know what he/she is doing.
I am sure CCSD/Metro have a TRAINING PROGRAM for crossing guards. You can't just have citizens out directing traffic. There are LIABILITY ISSUES. This isn't Mayberry. I applaud the guy's efforts. Kudos to you! It's a wonderful story in that respect. Don't get me wrong.
I'm sure this will all be worked out, and he'll be allowed to continue to volunteer.
That said, this, predictably, has turned into just another "LET'S BASH CCSD" opportunity for the know-it-alls.
"Teaser"and "gmag39"- are you a plantiffs attorneys or what?
The thinking of all the bad things that can possibly happen is exactly what is wrong with our school district. (this same kind of thinking is why the are getting rid of monkey bars, wont let the kids play football or smear the queer or even tag!) The guy has been there for over 20 years. No kids have been hurt in that time. Do you really think that they need to make him go to a CCSD Training Program? what a joke.
Lets spend money that could go into the classroom on someone training people on how to cross a street.
Growing up we, the students, were given the responsibility to be hall monitors and crossing guards. Guess what, nobody was ever hit by a car and we all listened to the hall monitors because we didn't want to get written up. All with a training program consisting of a teacher taking about 30 minutes to explain to us the rules.
Quit making everything so difficult and accept help from people that offer it so kindly.
gmag39-are you nuts? The guy has been doing this for over twenty years. Would you rather have some one as a crosing guard who has taken a four hour training class from some semiliterate hire of the school district. I much rather see someone working with the kids who is doing it because he really cares about them them and is concerned about their safety. I see absolutely nothing in the article that indicates Mr. Perone has any other alterior motive. Du Chateau should be fired for being an incompetent idiot.
Mr. Perone would not be doing what he LOVES the most for more than 24 yrs now, if he did not care for the children...he have a purpose and reasons to wake up in the morning and look forward to something new everyday...please don't take that away from him!
Frank is one of the sweetest guys my wife and I have ever met! It is very sad someone with so little common sense is teaching our children... and that he/she cannot find a simple solution to this seemingly easy conflict. It is embarrassing as well as sad.
jlb101,
No more nuts than you, certainly.
Anyway, did you read the Pricipal is NEW?
I would assume he was following district policy. May not have KNOWN the guy has been around for 24 years.
I worked for a school district (not CCSD) for many years, and people will SUE at the drop of a HAT.
You would be the first one to bitch if they let an untrained individual direct traffic and an accident ensued. You would throw out smart lines like stupid, incompetent, mental, morons, etc.
gmag39 - you are soooo right. Let CCSD train this guy so he can rank 49th in the country too!!! Yes CCSD really knows how to get things right. You must be kidding me.
As Lvice said, when I was in elementary, in the 80's, 4th and 5th graders had the opportunity to be AAA crossing guards. We received badges and belts and we were the crossing guards. There was a ranking system too. Blue badge entry level and red was LT. if I remember correctly. We were armed with handheld stop signs too. Guess what? No one got hurt.
Plus it taught kids how to be leaders. We were assigned intersections and had to report "on time". It taught the older kids to set examples and be responsible. It taught the younger ones to listen to the older ones and give RESPECT.
Concepts that are slowly being lost in our society by gov't run agencies that want to run 100% of everything.
As a society we didn't get to where we are without fundamental acts such as volunteering. There used to be volunteer fire depts. as an example. But the lawyers came and gov't found it easy to tax and spend as a result.
Now gov't has dwindled it's way into taking crossing guard duties away from volunteers and KIDS that could use the leadership and responsibility opportunity.
What is next, kids can't do the AM announcements and CCSD has to hire someone who is "trained" by CCSD to do that? Perhaps we'll need to hire some people to carry the kids lunch trays to their seats. After all a kid may spill his milk and another kid may slip.
Just stupid.
Teaser (above) raises some important issues; Unfortunately Teaser does not understand the facts of the situation. Since the Rancho Manor Neighborhood Assn. asked me to look into the situation on Mr. Perone's behalf, I have tried hard to establish the facts, not an easy task when dealing with the CCSD. Words are used in a slippery way to confuse the public.
One distinction has been made clear to me. There are two crossing guard programs. One concerns paid, part time employees of Metro; the other involves unpaid volunteers like Mr.Perone.
Both groups are subject to background screening for character and capacity. The difference lies in the assignment protocols. Paid guards are assigned where needed - usually on arterials with heavy traffic, high speeds and the possiblity of a serious accident, and are rarely, if ever, assigned in front of a school where 15 mph speed limits apply. They are not guaranteed a certain posting or even a certain school. Unpaid volunteers, can choose where and when to work, and volunteer through the schood they want to support. The protocol is for the principal to identify the location near the school where help is needed and submits the name of the volunteer, who must sign a privacy waiver, to Metro. When Metro completes a background screening, the volunteer is cleared to serve, but he will be assigned by the principal to the post that he chooses. As I understand it, this unpaid volunteer program was instituted by Metro because they did not have the people or money to put guards in low priorty posts, and using unpaid, but screened, volunteers would help out principals near their schools while addressing exactly the liability issues raised by "teaser."
This is what Frank Perone has done for years, since the program was instituted. He is, and has been a Metro supervised volunteer. He was not returned to his post because the principal decided he did not want a crossing guard at Wasden. As Metro told me: we do not assign volunteers; they are posted at the discretion of the principal.
Teaser's inuendos are unwarranted. Without alleging that Mr. Perone is a pervert, he suggests that he might be, and that the Principal is simply exercising due prudence in protecting the children. He suggests that Mr. Perone has not been vetted by Metro. This is all incorrect and the Principal knows it. His reasons for rejecting Mr. Perone lie elsewhare. We are still curious to know what they are.
I have been bringing my 5 kids to Wasden for 8 years now, my youngest is a 4th grader. I have been thru a few changes of the administration. I have seen and chatted with Mr. Perone for several years now, he is a pleasant fellow, most of the time. I remember last year when he was out for several months and there were not any problems. Most of the traffic that they are talking about in the artical are parents dropping off or picking up their kids, so they are cautious. I am sure that there have been instances of someone driving too fast, but it is not the traffic hazzard that the artical is refering to is not there. I have heard that Mr. Du Chateau offered Mr. Perone a position as a greeter so he could stand in the front of the school to greet the kids. And according to the news and articals thats is all Mr. Perone wants. I have met Mr. Du Chateau and during our conversation I discovered a New Principal, who is all about the kids, he really cares. I have seen him with the kids when school gets out and the kids smile at him and say "Good Bye Mr.Du Chateau". Once I saw him get down to a kids leval to talk with him, and that is not a small task as he is very tall. Those of you that are bashing Mr.Du Chateau have no clue to who you are speaking so horribly about. I see him as a caring man who has the kids best interest at heart.
Thursday morning, Perone shows a visitor his post, and why he is needed there.
He describes children weaving in front of cars, drivers going too fast. That's why he has a gold whistle around his neck, a gift from parents, the initials "FJP" engraved near the mouthpiece. Most of the students greet him with "Good morning, Mr. Perone."
If the above is true, it appears Scot Du chatteau has put these kids at risk. Why wasn't frank Perone replaced with a "qualified crossing guard" Du Chateau has just let these kids fend for themselves. Based on the story, parents do not qualify to help their own children cross the street. I just hope no children get hurt and slow Scot Du Chateau's rise to Supreme ruler of the Clark county school district.
Ha! This is a ridiculous story. This school is on Palomino Lane, people. Palomino Lane! Not Boulder Highway, or even Rancho Blvd. It's on a residential street! I would guess that the "chaos" mentioned in the article is no different from that at any other school during drop off and pick up. Sounds to me like a reporter was having a slow news day and decided to blow a small issue out of proportion to see who he could rile up. Ridiculous.
Yay for big government beaurocracy! Yay for the personal injury trial lawyers! What wonderful contributions they make to the betterment of society!
I am a senior at UNLV, and I attended Wasden as a child. Mr. Perone used to help my brother, sisters, and I cross the street. It is interesting the the CCSD complains about budget cuts, but yet they cut volunteers. CCSD is ran by a bunch of bureaucratic elitist who do not really understand how things in the real, non government sponsered world work. It is no wonder our school district is ranked as one of the worst in the nation.
I absolutely hate it when I have to agree with jib101. Something is very, very wrong.
One, Why is the school crossing guard the responsibility of Metro? I thought CCSD has their own police force. Why don't they disband or merge the CCSD police and have more money to pay for more crossing guards like this once volunteer.
Two, when a kid gets hit eventually crossing this street. Who will be to blame?
Three, Why doesn't these concerned parents ask the principal about Mr. Perone during the next PTA meeting? Put it in writing, ask Mr. Du Chateau to write a paper on why he would refuse the will of the concerned parents.
If these things are not me, strike the school for one day. While the media sees an school that is an empty shell, they'll ask for answers.
What seems to be missing from both the articles recently printed regarding this subject is the other side of the story. While the school district has not made Mr. Du Chateau available they have stated that he was following set policy, that all principals in the district should be following. That is the bottom line and he can't change that. If he wre to ask Metro to post a volunteer he would be going against that policy, so he can't do that either. They also did not attempt to speak to any parent who was not sent to them by Mr. Perone himself. While I agree the over the years Mr. Perone has been a fixture and has done much good, he has also created many problems that others have had to clean up. As a PTA mom I have personally witnessed many of these things. He could still volunteer in other areas at the school, even keeping his post, but on the sidewalk to watch for and greet kids. But he wants it his way or nothing. To those who have slandered and maligned this new principal, you need to get to know him and see how he cares about our kids and how they respond to him. Give the guy a break and find out about him personally instead of just taking what is reported at face value. There is always more to the story than is printed in the paper.
One has to imagine there is an underline question and/or concern with this man. You can't be too care full with the younger generation and for him to keep returning to the area and watch "His kids" is kind of creepy in it's own right. There is a reason for this and perhaps it will come out at some point, but I personally feel the principal is acting in good faith for his students well fare.