Three Tiburon sites open amid countywide crossing-guard shortage

Marie Beauchamp, who has been a crossing guard near Del Mar Middle School for two years, helps kids cross at the Tiburon Boulevard-Avenida MIraflores intersection. ‘I love my job,’ she said. ‘I do not know why they are having difficulty finding other guards.’ The countywide crossing-guard shortage has impacted three sites in Tiburon: Avenida Miraflores near Felipa Court, in front of Del Mar, and at the Tiburon Boulevard crosswalks at Mar West Street and at Stewart Drive. (Elliot Karlan / For The Ark)

Three of 10 crosswalks frequently used by students in Tiburon, including one in front of Del Mar Middle School, are without crossing guards more than a month into the new school year amid a widespread shortage of applicants for the part-time jobs.

The Transportation Authority of Marin contracts with All City Management Services — also known as the Crossing Guard Co. — to manage a staff of what is normally about 120 guards and alternates covering 100 crosswalks throughout Marin, including 10 sites in Tiburon.

However, there are only about 100 guards working throughout the county right now, said Dan Cherrier, crossing-guard project manager with Transportation Authority of Marin. Officials have pointed to a nationwide shortage of guards amid the COVID-19 pandemic, and that’s prompted the transportation authority to step up recruitment.

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