Palmerton Area School District is one step closer to having jurisdiction in hiring and oversight of crossing guards for the 2022-2023 school year.

Borough council on a 6-0 vote Thursday approved the first reading of an ordinance that grants the school district crossing guard authority.

Councilwoman Holly Hausman-Sell said the ordinance gives the school district authority to take over the hiring and oversight of crossing guards.

Earlier this month, the school board passed a motion requesting authority from the borough to take over the hiring and oversight of crossing guards.

In March, council voted to end its crossing guard contract with the school district effective in the 2022-2023 school year after many years due to an increased difficulty staffing shifts.

Councilman Kris Hoffner said they had 24 call-offs of crossing guards in February, which resulted in Palmerton’s patrol officers having to fill in.

Borough Manager Donna McGarry previously said that the borough has had a formal agreement with the district since 2009 for the borough to provide crossing guards at the two schools in the borough, and added the borough provided crossing guards prior to that.

The district hopes to round out its roster before classes begin in late August, and intends to post its crossing guard openings on its website.

Elsewhere, Lehighton Area School District and Lehighton Borough are looking to get on the same page regarding crossing guard plans for the upcoming school year.

Earlier this month, representatives from each entity discussed how to address personnel shortages that have been leaving several key intersections unmanned.

Lehighton Borough Councilman Ryan Saunders noted that over the course of the last school year, they had 135 crossing guard shifts go uncovered.

Lehighton Borough has historically handled the scheduling of crossing guards and pays 40% of the cost, while the school district picks up the remaining 60%.

Lehighton Borough Councilwoman Autumn Abelovsky said the borough’s intention is not to put the full financial burden on the district, and that the 40/60 split that currently exists could still continue.

Lehighton this year increased the rate to $10.50 an hour and advertised, but nobody applied.