MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Rutherford County Schools is looking for 20 to 25 new crossing guards to help man schools across the county.
The county will have 49 schools this year including the addition of two new schools. According to James Evans with Rutherford County Schools, the district is the fourth fastest growing school system in the state. There are 1,000 to 1,200 new students in the district every year. However, they can't keep enough crossing guards working.
There are several reason Lt. Alan Garner with the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office believes the crossing guards aren't staying on.
It could be the early hours or exposure to weather, but Garner said it's worthy work that needs to be done.
"The congestion in the area makes it difficult," said Lt. Garner. "We're growing so fast, it's hard to keep pace and right now we're short 20-25 crossing guards. So, the need to get crossing guards is top priority right now."
Current crossing guard, Camille Crenshaw said the work is worthwhile.
"It is a blessing to come here every day because I'm getting to help people and serve the public," she said.
Crenshaw has worked at McFadden School of Excellence in Murfreesboro for most of her six years as a crossing guard. She's about to start her seventh in the second week of August.
"The traffic is definitely getting heavier. I can tell it every year. There's a big need to slow it down," Crenshaw said.
Rutherford isn't the only county requesting more crossing guards. Williamson County Schools is also reporting the need for eight new hires.
You can find the applications for each county in these two links.
