STAWELL principals have vowed to continue fighting against cuts to school crossing supervisors.
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Northern Grampians council cut the $65,000-allocation to school crossing supervisors last year, labelling rate capping as the reason.
VicRoads agreed to fund school crossing supervisors at some schools in the shire as part of a six-month trial, but Stawell principals are concerned about what will happen when the trial is over.
Stawell’s St Patrick’s Primary School principal Catherine Harney said not having school crossing supervisors could lead to a fatality.
“We have 14 buses that drop off and pick students up each day,” she said.
“We also have children dropped off at school on the opposite side of the road.
“These children are aged five to 12 and I’m scared there will inevitably be a fatality.”
Mrs Harney said the school did not have the manpower to supervise the crossings themselves.
“We have been left in a terrible situation and I can’t stress how important this issue is,” she said.
“At the end of the day, it’s about the students and their safety – it’s not about principals, it’s not about councils, it’s about the children.”
“We need to look after the safety of our students.”
Stawell Primary School principal Robyn Jones, Stawell West Primary School principal Jim O’Brien and Stawell Secondary College principal Nick Lynch have issued a joint-statement protesting the cuts.
“As the principals of schools in the Northern Grampians Shire, we are voicing our extreme concern about the council’s move to stop employing and funding school crossing supervisors,” the statement read.
“Let’s be clear about this, this program is vital to making sure our children get home in one piece.
“These supervisors perform a crucial role in ensuring all our students get to and from school safely, including helping young children navigate their way across a number of busy roads across the region.”
Mr Lynch, Mrs Jones and Mr O’Brien believe the safety of their students was being jeopardised.
“What could take precedence over making sure these children get home to their families safe and sound?
“The council’s withdrawal of funding has come before the VicRoads working group has completed its review of the school crossings program, or handed down its recommendations.
“We urge the council to reconsider its position, and do their bit to keep these supervisors at their vital posts.”
