Lack Of Crossing Guard Protested

Some 40 concerned párents blocked traffic for about 45 minutes this morriing at Packard and Dalton Rds. to help their approximately 70 children safely cross the 5-lane highway t o Carpenter Elementary School and Scarlett Junior High. The parents from the Woodland Hills Development told The News this morning they would be back at the intersection to block traffic throughout the day when children needed to cross, and would return each day until a Crossing guard is provided. Last year, a crossing guard was provided by Pittsfield Township, in which the development is located. But this year, township officials told the tí' ents they could afford to pay for a guaro! only until Sept. 21. But by this morning, apparently no crossing guard had yet been found. Dr. Richard Creal, safety coördinator for the Ann Arbor public schools, said today the School Safety Committee "hopes to coordínate available resources in the community to get a permanent resolution" of the problem. The five-lane highway has no sidewalks in the Packard-Dalton area, and there is no traffic light there. The parents consider the intersection "very dangerous." Three patrol cars from the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Department were at the scène this morning when the parents linked hands and stopped traffic f rom 8 to 8:45 a.m. They did not try to 'forcibly move the parents, however. Mrs. Carolyn Murphy and Mrs. Shirley Waters, spokesmen for the parents, said they were "very sorry with all the dissent in the country today that we have to resolve it this way, but we feel we have no choice." Mrs. Murphy said the parents have met with township, county and Ann Arbor School District officials, and all are "sympathetic." But she said nothing has been done. Two children were hurt in the Packard-Dalton area two years ago when Packard was önly a two-lane highway, Mrs. Murphy said. "There are a lot of concerned people here, and some people should be ashamed of themselves," Mrs. Murphy said. She added that "if we can't beat the system, as residents the Woodland Hills parents are prepared to raise money and get a bus and driver" for the children. The Woodland Hills children live outsïde the city, but are not more than IY2 miles from Carpenter or Scarlett. Thus, they are not eligible for busing by the Ann Arbor School District. Mrs. Murphy said the decisión to block the road was made at an emergency meeting of the parents last night after j being informed yesterday morning that no crossing guard I would be on hand this morning. Today was the first day of school in the Ann Arbor School District