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ORANGE COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE GENERAL ORDER Effective Date: June 3, 2020  Amends - GO 6.3.0 ( May 1, 2019 ) Number: 6.3.0 Distribution: All Personnel Review Month: November Reviewing Authority: HRD / Employee Services Subject: School Cross ing Guards This order consists of the following: 1. Purpose 2. Policy 3. Definitions 4. Procedures 1. Purpose The purpose of this policy is to confirm an effective and organized operation to enhance the safety of children while arriving and leaving scho ol. 2. Policy The agency will strive to staff all school crossing areas while school is in regular session . 3. Definitions A. School Crossing Guard - a part -time employee who has been trained and certified in compliance with FS 316.75 to assist elementary and middle school students to safely cross roadways at designated locations. B. School Crossing Guard Traine r - a part -time employee who has been trained and certified in compliance with FS 316.75 to train school crossi ng guards and monitor their performance in the fiel d. 4. Procedures A. Authority and Responsibilities 1. The School Crossing Guard Program is a component of the Human Resources Division (HRD ), Employee Services S ection . 2. A School Crossing Guard Coordi nator shall be assigned to the program and shall have the following responsibilities: a. Hire school crossings guards. b. Directly supervise the office staff and the school crossing guards. c. Confirm that all School Crossing Guard Trainers and school cros sing guards are trained and certified pursuant to FS 316.75 . d. Perform other crossing guard related duties as assigned by the Human Resources Division Commander or designee . e. Monitor school zones and school crossings where school crossing guards are posted. Assess the need for protection and adequacy of safety standards. f. Conduct an annual analysis in conju nction with Orange County Traffic Engineering, Orange County Public S chool s, and represented 6.3.0, Page 2 of 3 municipalities of Orange County. 3. Authority and Responsibilities of School Crossing Guards a. School crossing guards are utilized primarily to create gaps in tr affic that help elementary and middle school students cross a traffic way safely. b. School crossing guards are not law enforcement officers. They are not authorized to control traffic unless directed to do so by competent authority. Their limited author ity does not extend beyond the location of the school crossing to which they are assigned. c. The standard procedures for safe student pedestrian crossing evolutions are prescribed by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) Safety Office. All scho ol crossing guards employed by the agency must be trained and certified according to training guidelines issued by FDOT. B. Selection Criteria School crossing guards are selected through a system that considers general character, mental and physical condi tions of the applicant and proximity of the crossing to their residence. Applicants must successfully comp lete a thorough background investigation and a post selection medical exam. C. Training Criteria Training of school crossing guards will be coordina ted by the School Crossing Guard Coordinator pursuant to guidelines developed by the State of Florida in accordance with FS 316.75 . D. Uniforms School crossing guards are outfitted with traffic safety devices and protective clothing. They do not wear a distinctive uniform. E. Posting Orders 1. A formal procedure for school pedestrian safety is in force within Ora nge County. 2. School crossing guard positions are authorized only after a traffic engineering study has indicated the need. The post will be protected as follows: a. The morning period will extend for one hour between forty -five minutes prior to the star t of class and fifteen minutes thereafter. b. In the afternoon the time frame for crossing protection starts fifteen minutes prior to school dismissal and ends forty -five minutes afterwards. c. Post times may be adjusted and/or extended by the School Cross ing Guard Coordinator to address the particular needs of the school or crossing location. 3. HRD is responsible for the assignment, training, and supervision of school crossing guards. 4. School crossing guards do not relieve children of all crossing sa fety 6.3.0, Page 3 of 3 responsibilities. Guards are trained to properly instruct children to act responsibly at crossings. F. Absence/Vacancy Reporting 1. A weekly absence report showing the location of school crossing s from which a school crossing guard will be absent d uring the entire week will be sent via e-mail. This notification will be sent to the following locations: Communication s, Uniform Patrol Division Commanders , all Sector Commanders, Special Operations Division, and Youth Services Section Commander . The pu rpose of this notification is to alert agency personnel that the vacancy exists. Once the notification is e-mailed , the appropriate process for coverage will be followed. These notices will be transmitted from the office of the School Crossing Guard Coor dinator on the last day of the week prior to the week in which the vacancy will occur. 2. School crossing guards shall report absences to either Communication s or the School Crossing Guard Coordinator’s office depending upon time of day and circumstances surrounding the absence. Calls to the Communications Section will be made only between 1630 hours and 0800 hours, Monday through Friday