SAN ANTONIO — As the new school year begins, parents in San Antonio are expressing growing concerns over the absence of school crossing guards, particularly on busy roads near schools.
Richard Coffey, a parent of a student at Loma Alta Middle School, highlighted the dangers on Potranco Road, saying, “It’s horrible. My wife’s almost been hit. Other family members been hit. Another lady nearby almost been hit.”
Coffey emphasized the urgency of the situation, noting, “There’s nobody here stopping. Twice we’ve seen someone just pulls up, stops and laying on the horn. So they got to do something here.”
Medina Valley ISD acknowledged the challenges posed by increasing traffic and crosswalk safety, stating that safety remains a top priority. To address these concerns, the district has initiated a volunteer crossing guard program requiring two hours of training and a background check.
On the far north side, similar concerns are being raised. Cliff Dermer, a resident near Coker Elementary School, stressed the necessity of crossing guards. “Nobody’s slowing down unless they actually get close to somebody. I’ve also requested a speed bump here for the same reason, you’ll see somebody go blasting by in a minute,” he said.
North East ISD has requested a new crossing guard from the City of San Antonio multiple times. In the interim, staff members are assisting students in crossing Heimer Road.
Dermer added, “We have young children involved. Parents crossing back and forth traffic. Whatever the budget calls for the lives of these kids is priceless. You don’t need to be reminded of that.”
The City of San Antonio has informed NEISD that a new crossing guard has been hired and will start next week.
Other districts, such as Northside ISD and Alamo Heights ISD, have also reported vacancies and alternative measures for traffic control.