Crossing guards who work in Joliet schools are receiving a 15 percent increase.
The crossing guards are employed by the City of Joliet and overseen by the Joliet Police Department. Police Sgt. Hollis Weller said crossing guards do not receive benefits and are not paid if they don’t show up for work. First day of classes in Joliet was on Wednesday.
Prior to council’s unanimous vote Tuesday, crossing guards made $32 per day for working before school starts and when classes let out. The last time a raise was given was in 2015.
“Even with that increase, that is very little money,” said councilwoman Suzanna Ibarra, who presents the 5th District in the City of Joliet.
City Manager Beth Beatty said Joliet could consider another pay hike at a later date if the 15 percent raise does not attract enough applicants. She said backups are needed for the 26 crossing guards, who work at Joliet Grade School District 86, Plainfield Community Consolidated School District schools located in the city of Joliet and Diocese of Joliet schools, if one of them calls in sick.
In the Village of Plainfield, the starting hourly rate for a part-time crossing guard is $21.15. In Bolingbrook, they make $15 per hour.
In other City Council news, the elected officials made fans of Chick-fil-A restaurant happy by unanimously approving the fast-food restaurant with a drive-through-lane in the 200 block of Larkin Avenue, replacing the former Steak-N-Shake restaurant that closed its doors several weeks ago.
This is the second location for the chicken chain as Chick-fil-A back in January 2021 opened its first restaurant in Joliet on Route 30 where the former Lone Star steakhouse was located.
The new location is expected to open on grounds of the former Steak-N-Shake restaurant sometime next year, according to information provided at Tuesday’s meeting.
Lauren O’Hara was sworn into her new Joliet City Clerk position. She changed her name from Lauren Staley Ferry’s to her married name. She was recently sworn in to her new position at Joliet City Hall.
