August 24, 2006

Back to school!

Councilmember Nancy Pyle highlights importance
of crossing guards to a school community

By Lorraine Gabbert
Staff Writer

Taking a hands-on approach to school safety, Councilmember Nancy Pyle greeted returning students to Los Alamitos Elementary School on Wednesday while working as a crossing guard for the day.

However, to the dismay of children and parents alike, the familiar face of crossing guard Jan Bokelmann was nowhere to be seen.

As they crossed the street, the question on everyone’s lips was, “Where’s Jan?” A staple of the community for 18 years, Bokelmann was not at her usual post, but reassigned as a floater crossing guard to assist supervisors in need of an additional pair of watchful eyes.

“We love Jan because she makes everyone feel wonderful coming to school in the morning,” says mother Stacey Winters. “My daughter Andrea is going to miss that big high-five in the morning.”

Last May’s budget cuts relating to the San Jose Police Department’s crossing guard program resulted in the loss of a number of valued crossing guards and supervisors throughout the city. With about170 guards posted at 120 high-risk intersections near schools, the two remaining supervisors are hard-pressed to check on them. “That’s why we turned Jan into a roving crossing guard,” says school safety supervisor Anita Caramella. “It’s a stop-gap measure to help us. Even if I had a magic carpet, I still couldn’t observe 85 people.”

There is more to being a crossing guard than the public is aware of. At Redmond Avenue and Silberman Drive, for instance, on a school morning there is a constant stream of children, parents, dogs, pedestrians, scooters and bikes, not to mention cars, trucks and buses. There are specific techniques to be followed, and with the four-way crossing, a lot of multi-tasking. For those lucky enough to have known Bokelmann, there was also a loving, guiding presence to brighten their day.

In her new position, Bokelmann is responsible for observing the other guards—making sure they show up on time and don’t leave early, and that they’re doing their job correctly—as well as the sites, taking notes and reporting to the supervisors. “I would like to bring Jan back here,” says Caramella. “They love her. I would not send her any place else.”

Unfortunately, that won’t be possible without funding. “We need the other two supervisors desperately,” says Caramella. “We need the funding. People don’t realize how important crossing guards are. If they weren’t here, these children couldn’t cross this street, and there are areas worse than this.”

Although Pyle worked with Vice Mayor Cindy Chavez and Mayor Ron Gonzales to “ensure that the crossing guard program would receive full funding, providing children in San Jose with the safe passage they need when going to and from school,” it seems that there is more work to be done. At this time, Los Alamitos Elementary School was left without Bokelmann—and a second crossing guard—which Los Alamitos Principal Shyril McGuiness considers essential to the students’ safety. Currently, the school is served by only one crossing guard, Norm Bengford, who has been with the school for a couple of years and often is seen cheerfully giving students high-fives as they cross the street.

“There are budget cuts everywhere,” allows McGuiness, “However, we feel that the safety of our children is of the utmost importance. Here, at Redmond Avenue, there is a lot of traffic, and having two traffic guards is very important. We’re concerned about cutting the program to one crossing guard. We need crossing guards on both sides of the street, not just one going back and forth.”

McGuiness also values the unique relationship Bokelmann had with the Los Alamitos community since 1988. “She had a lot of personal contact with our children,” she says. “It’s a big loss not only regarding the safety of our students, but also with their personal relationships. A lot of the students, especially primary students, would have apprehensions about coming to school and she would make them go away smiling. She would cheer them up and assure them that everything would be OK. She’d give them hugs, hold hands and walk with them. Not only the children, but the parents appreciated her. We are really going to miss her.”

“We love Jan,” says resident Lucia Santucci. “She was wonderful. I was hoping she’d be here.”

Third/fourth grade combo teacher Faith Borges also valued Bokelmann’s caring nature. “Jan has a true concern about children,” she says. “It isn’t just a job to her. She knows each child by name and has a real care for this community. She still remembers my son, who is 23, and my daughter, who is 21, and asks after them. It’s all about that deeper altruism and the safety and the well-being of our community and children.”

Bokelmann was asked to take on her current position exactly because of her dedication and professionalism. Valued for her efforts, it is the SJPD Crossing Guard Unit’s belief that she will be an inspiration and role model for others.

“The crossing guard program is so important to our schools because it is the health and safety of our children that is paramount,” says Pyle. “This has my heart and priority. I’m out here today because this is so important to me. I was a teacher and understand that the school community is like a family. We’re hoping to bring Jan back. I can feel the love in this community and it’s wonderful. We don’t want to discourage that.”

Nancy Pyle stepped up as crossing guard to show the community she cares, but the matter of adequate funding for crossing guards and supervisors remains, as well as the possibility of returning Jan to her job and labor of love at Los Alamitos. In the meantime, Bokelmann will be missed by teachers, students and parents as their crossing guard. “She’s an icon for our school,” says McGuiness. “We hope she’ll be back one day.”

Even though she’s excited about her new position, leaving Los Alamitos was a very hard decision for Bokelmann. “The community means a great deal to me,” she says. “I love my children. They’re an extension of my family. Hopefully, I’ll be back on my corner pretty soon.”