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Crossing guard and lifelong resident warns board of speeding in school zones
Summary
A crossing guard and lifelong Marshall resident told the board he regularly observes motorists speeding in school zones near the middle school and on Southview Drive; he urged awareness and suggested increased enforcement or parent reminders.
Russ Labatt, a lifelong Marshall resident who works as a crossing guard, addressed the board during the public forum about what he described as frequent speeding and distracted driving in school zones.
"I can see that sign flashing from my point," Labatt said of a flashing speed sign near the middle school, but he told the board many drivers exceed the posted 20 mph limit. "It's 27, it's 28, it's 30, it's 31. Like I said, 41 was the top." Labatt said he regularly sees drivers on phones or otherwise distracted while students arrive at school and described students riding bikes and crossing midblock in the morning.
Labatt said he had raised the placement of a school zone sign with the city and was told Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) determined its location. He asked the board to be aware of the issue and said increased enforcement or reminders to parents might help. He complemented school staff and principals and said most students have been polite and cooperative with crossing procedures.
Why it matters: crossing guards and staff are the district's frontline observers of morning pick-up and drop-off patterns; unsafe speeds and distracted driving near schools increase the risk to students walking or bicycling to school. Labatt asked the board to consider communications or enforcement but did not request a specific formal action.
Ending: Board members thanked Labatt; no formal action was taken at the meeting, and staff did not announce a follow-up item at that time.
