Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and Glen Innes Public School Principal Christine Dorward at the school crossing on the New England Highway.
Monday, 2 September 2019
STUDENTS at Glen Innes Public School will soon be met with a smiling face and a helping hand as they walk to school with Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall today announcing a new full-time school crossing supervisor to help them cross Church Street.
Mr Marshall joined school Principal Christine Dorward and P&C President Natasha Ward to make the announcement at the notorious crossing, located on the busy New England Highway.
Mr Marshall said the new road safety position would come as a great relief to parents whose children have to cross the busy road sometimes up to twice a day.
“Everyday hundreds of cars and trucks travel along the highway and past Glen Innes Public School posing a safety risk to students crossing the road before and after school,” Mr Marshall said.
“There hasn’t been a supervisor at the crossing before, so this addition will make crossing the highway much safer for children and less of a concern for school teachers and parents.
“The supervisor will stop traffic and assist students across the highway between 8.15 and 9am in the morning and 2.30 and 4pm in the afternoon every school day.
“Recruitment for the position will commence in the next few weeks and I encourage dedicated local people interested in serving their community in this important way to apply.”
Under previous requirements, a school crossing had to be used by 300 cars per hour in the morning and afternoon as well as at least 50 students to be eligible for a supervisor.
“I’m pleased the government has changed the requirements to enable more schools to qualify for a crossing supervisor as they now only need to meet one of the criteria,” Mr Marshall said.
Principal Christine Dorward said the new supervisor would give both teachers and parent’s piece of mind.
“Church Street is an incredibly busy road and everyday many of our children who walk to and from school have to cross it, sometimes in peak hour,” Mrs Dorward said.
“Already there are traffic lights outside the school which stops vehicles and allows pedestrians to cross however I welcome this additional level of adult supervision which will ensure our children make it where they are going without incident.”