PGCPS Safe Passage: two coordinators, 137 assessments this year; most requests closed within days
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Summary
Director Gary Cunningham said Safe Passage has two coordinators, has completed 116 of 137 safety assessments this year and usually responds to requests within 24–48 hours (no more than seven days); some requests are referred to transportation or public works.
Prince George’s County Public Schools’ Safe Passage coordinator program, led by Director of Safety and Security Gary Cunningham, has two full-time coordinators assigned by geography and has conducted 137 safety assessments this year, Cunningham told the board on Nov. 12.
Cunningham said coordinators are split by Central Avenue (north/south) and work closely with the Department of Public Works and Transportation (DPWT), the police department and school staff to evaluate routes, crossing locations and site-specific hazards. He described the program as collaborative and aimed at both incident-driven responses and, eventually, proactive traffic surveys and traffic-safety engineering when funding allows.
“We currently have 2 people assigned to that program,” Cunningham said. “Most of our complaints come in through the TRS system. They've had a total of 137 assessments this year, and they've closed 116 of them. 21 are in progress.”
Cunningham said roughly 75 of the complaints flagged safety concerns; some requests are reclassified (for example, bus-stop preferences referred to transportation rather than the Safe Passage team). He said the office can close many issues quickly, often responding within 24–48 hours and no more than seven days, and that crossing-guard and facility-service requests are tracked with follow-ups (staff commit to a 30-day follow-up on crossing-guard requests).
Board members requested the assessment tool and school-by-school breakdowns of crossing-guard requests, facilities referrals and DPWT referrals; Cunningham agreed to provide the assessment instrument and to share the requested lists and status updates.
No formal action was taken; the presentation focused on program activity, partnerships and next steps to expand proactive surveys when funding allows.