Bryan ISD school board members are told the city of Bryan pays a third party provider $180,000 dollars a year to supply school crossing guards.
Board members at their April 1st meeting reviewed a request by the city that the district initially starts sharing that expense with the idea of eventually paying the entire cost.
That information was originally presented during a joint meeting that was attended by three members of the school board and three members of the council.
Ruthie Waller, who was one of the board members at the joint meeting, noted “they (council members) have kids in our district” and “it was almost like the council members there once they learned about what was going on, they didn’t realize all that what (public) education is going through right now”.
School board member Leo Gonzalez, who is not a member of the city-school committee and did not attend the joint meeting, says he wants the district to provide all council members what BISD contributes to the city.
Superintendent Ginger Carrabine said paying for crossing guards would come out of the district’s pocket, because state money does not cover the mandated costs of armed guards and police officers on each campus.
Carrabine also said she was not in favor of a suggestion to turn over crossing guard duties to high school student ambassadors.
Board members were told that around the state, there are a variety of contractual relationships between cities and school boards regarding the cost of crossing guards.
Click below to hear comments from the April 1, 2024 Bryan ISD school board meeting.