For the students at Ponderosa Elementary School, their crossing guard is more than someone who helps them safely cross the street every day: He also is a role model and a friend.
Bill Ricks, a Sunnyvale resident who just celebrated his 80th birthday at the beginning of July, has been a crossing guard for children at Ponderosa for six years, and has built a special bond with them and their parents.
“I love the interaction with the parents and the kids, and the school, of course. The kids, they adopt you,” said Ricks. “I have a thing with my stop sign, they do a high five on my stop sign. Every kid at Ponderosa does it.”
Ricks has been recognized by parents, students and teachers for his dedication and service to the school and community, even receiving a pair of tickets from parents to one of this year’s Golden State Warriors playoff games.
The Ponderosa PTA gave him a certificate for his commitment, and the students have shown an outpouring of appreciation by making signs and thanking him for keeping them safe.
“They love me over there. If you give, they give back,” he said. “It’s just getting them off to a good start for school that day. And the parents like it, so the parents are really gracious with their praise, but it’s good. So I try to give them the best I got.”
Ricks realizes his role is an important one, not to be taken lightly.
“You’re protecting young lives,” he said. “That’s the No. 1 reason you’re out there. And we’re teaching the kids safety too: how to cross, to always cross with the crossing guard. I have a chat with the kids every day about safety.”
Recruitment
The crossing guard program has 45 posts at 39 intersections and is completely funded and supported by the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety.
DPS is looking to recruit at least a dozen additional crossing guards for the upcoming school year.
“A lot of kids in the public school district live near their schools so a lot of them bike, skateboard, scooter or walk to school. When they’re doing that, we want to make sure these roadways are safe,” said DPS Capt. Jeff Hunter.
Interested individuals can fill out an application online or come into the DPS offices. If selected, the applicant must be fingerprinted and participate in a background evaluation and provide references.
“We’re looking for the right character to make sure that it fits within the school’s needs,” Hunter said.
Crossing guards generally work 10-15 hours per week, with pay starting at approximately $12 per hour. Daily shifts are typically two hours to 2½ hours.
Hunter acknowledged that crossing guards in the city can be much more than protectors of children at their posts.
“I’ve heard a lot of comments from other crossing guards–I’ve heard everything from life advice, we’ve had crossing guards throughout the city telling kids to study hard today, or they have little slogans,” Hunter said. “Or at the end of the day they say, ‘Make sure to start your homework right away.’ It’s just a little way to connect a little bit into the community. That’s why we love the crossing guards.”
For more information or to apply, contact Betsy Brewer at ebrewer@sunnyvale.ca.gov or 408.730.7192.
