The Upper Perkiomen School Board took the first step towards clarifying its relationship with Upper Hanover, Pennsburg and Red Hill regarding crossing guards. Now it's up to the municipalities to respond.

            Last week, the members voted unanimously to pass a resolution allowing the district to assume the hiring and oversight of the guards. The board is requesting authority from the township board of supervisors and both borough councils to relinquish their current authority.

            State law requires school crossing guards to serve at the pleasure of the local municipal government. It states that their compensation "shall be fixed by the council and shall be jointly paid by the council and the board of school directors, in a ratio to be determined by the council and board of school directors." Further, it states that if the council and board of school directors are unable to determine the ratio of compensation "each shall pay one-half of the compensation of the crossing guards."

            The statue allows the municipalities to take the action completed by the school board on Oct. 10. Now Upper Hanover, Pennsburg and Red Hill must ratify a similar resolution to transfer control.

            The language of the resolution did not make any reference to how much money each municipality would contribute towards each guard. Sandy Kassel, the district's Business Administrator, described that situation as to be determined.

            After the meeting, Kassel explained that the township and the two boroughs have expressed a desire to cooperate by allocating money to help fund them, adding that the issue will be worked out later.

            "All three communities are interested in the safety of students," she said. "I believe they are all interested in contributing."

            Red Hill Borough Council has already voted separately in favor of transferring crossing guard control to the school board and offering financial assistance, according to member Elizabeth DeJesus.  Upper Hanover voted last week to contribute one-third of 50 percent of the  costs for the crossing guards required for Montgomery Avenue with the school district picking up the other half and the administration of the guards.

            In related news, Superintendent Allyn Roche informed the members that he placed five additional temporary crossing guards in the district. Three are on Montgomery Avenue, which borders Pennsburg, Red Hill and Upper Hanover, while two are near the intersection of 11^th Street and Main Street near the border of Pennsburg and Red Hill.

            Upon re-evaluation and feedback from district stakeholders, the temporary guards on Montgomery Avenue have been positioned in front of the new middle school and at the intersections of 8^th and 11 streets. The guard at 11^th Street – near the high school – will be responsible to direct traffic, according to the superintendent.

            At the intersection of Main Street and 11^th Street, one guard was positioned at the traffic light, according to Roche. He said the second guard has been placed at Main and West 11^th Street to make sure students cross the busy road in a straight line instead of catty-corner.