West Hartford Crossing Guards To Get Raises, How Much?

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Amid tributes to the work school crossing guards do, West Hartford Board of Education members ratified a new contract with them that gives them a slight pay raise.

The school board voted unanimously Sept. 20 to approve a new contract between the school system and the West Hartford Police Employee Association, which oversees crossing guards.

The terms of the pact, which is for the 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 schools years, calls for raises each year.

For the current year, crossing guards will earn a 1 percent pay hike, with a 1.5 percent raise in the second year and a 2 percent wage adjustment in the final year of the deal.

According to the Town of West Hartford's website, substitute crossing guard pay starts at about $21.24 per hour.

In addition, active employee life insurance will increase from $9,000 in coverage to $10,000 in coverage, while retiree insurance will increase from $4,500 to $5,000 in coverage.

West Hartford School System Executive Director of Human Resources Julio Duarte briefed the board on the specifics of the deal at the last meeting.

"The crossing guards are managed by the West Hartford Police Deparatment, but are officially board employees," Duarte said, adding there are 40 employees under the contract, with all of them part-time and not receiving any pension benefits as they're 20-hour-a-week workers.

During discussions of the contract, school officials paid tribute to the work of West Hartford crossing guards and those of guards in general.

Duarte said crossing guards are workers "whose role and responsibilities center on ensuring that all our students get to and from school safely each day."

"Whether rain, sleet or snow, they're there with a smile on their face every day making sure that our students get to school safely," he said.

Board members expressed thanks before approving the pact.

"I just want to thank the crossing guards because they are our most visible employees across town," said Deb Polun, school board vice chairperson. "Thanks for all the work that you do."

Board of education member Jason O. Chang said he did notice that, at times, police officers are doing the role of a guard.

It prompted him to ask school administrators whether there are any openings or a shortage of guards.

"Can we encourage people to apply for those," Chang said.

West Hartford Interim Superintendent of Schools Andrew Morrow said there are regularly openings and folks can apply with the town for the jobs.

He said, often, the WHPD will step in and work an intersection if a crossing guard is out sick or unavailable at a given time.

Morrow said crossing guards, like other school employees, are an underrated component of the educational system.

"These are the behind the scenes, our frontline people working day in and day out," Morrow said.

To watch the Sept. 20 West Hartford Board of Education meeting, click on this link.

To see a summary of the crossing guard contract approved by the school board, click on this link.