Boot camp for school crossing guards

KETTERING, Ohio (WDTN) - More students will be walking to school this year as cash-strapped districts continue to cut busing.

We decided to take a closer look at who's keeping your child safe if they take the old fashioned way to school.

The answer may surprise you. School has yet to start here at Beavertown Elementary but some students already have their first assignments.

"There has to be certain points. We call them gap points where you have to stand," said Jacob McTaggart, 5th grader.

Jacob is one of a handful of students in Kettering who's taking a big step. You don't want to cross him until he tells you too.

"You see they take it very seriously. This is not a joke to them," said Cindy Antrican, AAA Public Affairs.

You couldn't miss the students in their neon green hats and vests and that's the point.

They're part of the Safety Patrol and for the last 40 years in Kettering, students like them have been making sure other kids can navigate the way to school.

"Since the inception of the student safety patrol program, we have had no injuries or critical crashes involving students to and from school," said Marc Rasor, Senior Safety Supervisor, Kettering.

If they look young, that's because they are, but don't worry, they have adults who help supervise and train them. It is a boot camp, of sorts, for the latest recruits.

Their role might not seem like much to some but it appears to be growing with each passing year.

"I do believe it's going to become more important than it's been in the past 10 to 15 years as more children are walking to school."

And if that's not enough, the orange barrels out here at Beavertown will be added obstacles.

We asked officials what it will be like when school starts next week.

"Everything will be very safe and we'll get traffic in and out and pedestrians will be under our watchful eye."