Dear Billy T and Somerville/Medford News Weekly Speakup Line,
Dear Billy T,
I am writing to express my deep concern about the lack of crossing guards at St. Theresa School on Summer Street in Somerville, MA. This is not only an inconvenience for parents but, more importantly,
a significant safety issue for our children. The city has informed the Principal of the School that they currently do not have crossing guards for the school. In response, parents have been advised by the Principal to call and complain directly to the City of Somerville. While I understand the City of Somerville will push back and put the responsibility on the school, I feel it is necessary to underscore the gravity of this issue, and push back on the City of Somerville.
Every day, children from our community, including my 4-year-old daughter, must navigate busy streets to get to school. Without crossing guar, they are put in danger by drivers who may not be fully aware of the presence of young children in the area. The lack of supervision at such critical crossing points is unacceptable, and I am genuinely fearful for the safety of all students.
It is frustrating to see that while the city has been investing funds into making cosmetic improvements such as redoing sidewalks and reducing road sizes, the safety of our children has been overlooked. These infrastructure updates may enhance the neighborhood’s aesthetics, but they do little to address the urgent need for safe passage to and from school. It is unclear why such projects are prioritized over something as fundamental as the safety of schoolchildren.
I urge you to advocate for our school community by pressing the City of Somerville to address this matter immediately. In the meantime, I encourage us to explore temporary solutions, such as volunteer crossing guards, while this issue is resolved.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope we can work together to get the City of Somerville to provide us with crossing guards to ensure our children can travel to school safely each day.
Sincerely,
Bianca Peixoto