Gov. Jeb Bush praises programs dedicated to keeping Pasco's schoolchildren safe.
By STEVE THOMPSON
Published February 6, 2004
In the heat, cold and rain, Pasco's crossing guards make sure the kids get to and from the county's elementary schools safely.
Today is School Crossing Guard Appreciation Day statewide, and Gov. Jeb Bush's office has recognized Pasco's crossing guards as the best in the state for 2003.
"Not a lot of people write letters to the editor about school crossing guards," Sheriff Bob White said Thursday. "But I guarantee you, every time a parent or a citizen passes through a school zone, they think about the good job that our school crossing guards do protecting our children."
Pasco's crossing guards help the county's kids in more ways than just directing traffic, said sheriff's Sgt. Jeff Tanner, who supervises the unit.
The governor's award came in recognition of some of the unit's special programs, Tanner said. These include bicycle helmet giveaways and traffic safety classes for kids.
"They get to know these kids really well because you have the same kids that frequent these crossings every day," Tanner said.
If the crossing guards see a child riding a bicycle without a helmet, they make sure the child gets one. The unit buys the helmets with donated funds.
"That's one of the programs they've taken on just strictly voluntarily of their own initiative," Tanner said.
He said the guards, whose average age in Pasco is 68, also go to the schools to give lessons in bicycle, pedestrian and school bus safety.
"Many of these children really look up to the crossing guards because they see them out there every day," he said. "They can have a very easy mentoring effect on the kids."
