School crossing guards and safety agents play important roles in maintaining the well-being of students, but a recent City Council hearing found that the low pay and limited benefits offered to them makes their recruitment and retention challenging.
Councilman Joseph Addabbo Jr.
Councilman Joseph Addabbo Jr. (D-Howard Beach) told members of Community Board 10 at their meeting last Thursday night that at a recent joint hearing in Manhattan, it was determined that part-time crossing guards earn about $12,000 a year. The current beginning salary for a school safety agent is $26,041 a year.NYPD Commissioner Raymond Kelly has testified at past council hearings that the hiring of crossing guards has always been a challenge. Several factors contribute to the difficulty, including the low wages offered and the schedule that corresponds with the arrival and dismissal of students.
As of March 2007, the number of crossing guards employed at city schools was approximately 100 less than the NYPD’s target figure. But a recent wave of applicants — 300 since June 2007 — has NYPD officials hopeful.
Statistics show that between 2002 to 2007 the turnover rate of school safety agents has been 50 percent, with approximately 40 agents leaving per month. Leaders of the union representing the safety agents point out that the large turnover rate hurts their performance as a unit.
Councilman Joe Addabbo with Jennifer Manley Queens Commissioner of the Mayor's Community Affairs Unit
At the meeting, held at the Knights of Columbus Hall in South Ozone Park, board member Frank Dardani asked Addabbo what the City Council could do to retain school safety agents. Addabbo said the pay issue had to be addressed by the mayor. However, he said the council was looking at what they could do legislatively regarding the agents’ benefits and other possible incentives.
Senator Serphin Maltese
Board members heard from state Sen. Serphin Maltese (R-Glendale) on the current status of negotiations for the control of Aqueduct Race Track. Agreeing with many of his constituents, Maltese said that “it’s the best thing for our community” for horses to continue running in Ozone Park. He added that despite speculation that American Indian tribes may run a casino at Aqueduct, “that was not realistic, and (was) not expected to happen.”Maltese said that he hopes that a fiscally sound group comes forward and agrees to continue racing at Aqueduct. Maltese noted that both he and Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Ozone Park) have the support of senate and assembly leaders in Albany in their efforts to do what is best for South Queens.
Addendum:
NY State Assemblyman Rory Lancman came by to introduce himself to the Board...
Councilman Rory Lancman
