Fort Mill School District Updates Traffic Patterns, Adjusts Crossing Guard Roles

The Fort Mill School District is implementing significant changes to traffic patterns at several of its schools, including Tega Cay Elementary, ahead of the upcoming school year. These modifications, announced via email to parents and guardians, represent a direct response to both recent tragic incidents involving crossing guards and the underlying legal limitations governing their authority in South Carolina. The central pillar of this overhaul is a redefinition of the crossing guard’s role, shifting their focus exclusively to pedestrian safety within designated crosswalks, rather than directing vehicular traffic in roadways.

The Fort Mill School District’s New Approach

In light of these challenges and the clear legal boundaries, the Fort Mill School District is implementing a new strategy for the upcoming school year. The key changes include:

• Redefined Crossing Guard Role: The district’s third-party vendor will no longer deploy crossing guards to direct vehicle traffic in the roadway. Instead, guards will be positioned exclusively at designated crosswalks, focusing on assisting students who are walking or biking. This includes their strategic placement at the bus entrance at Tega Cay Elementary to ensure pedestrian safety for bus riders.
• Mandatory Right-Turn Only Exits: To streamline traffic flow and reduce congestion within school zones, several schools will implement a “right-turn only” rule for all exiting vehicles during morning drop-off and afternoon pick-up. This applies to:
  • Catawba Ridge High School
  • Fort Mill Elementary School
  • Fort Mill Middle School
  • River Trail Elementary School
  • Riverview Elementary School
  • Tega Cay Elementary
• Suggested Traffic Patterns: The district has provided suggested traffic patterns for schools implementing the right-turn only changes, encouraging parents to review these new procedures.
• Continued Collaboration: The district emphasizes its ongoing collaboration with the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT), local law enforcement, and municipal authorities to develop more comprehensive, long-term traffic solutions. Both Fort Mill Mayor Guynn Savage and Tega Cay Mayor Chris Gray have urged SCDOT to assist in preventing future incidents.

The Evolution of the Crossing Guard’s Role: A History of Limited Authority

The function of school crossing guards has long been a vital component of student safety, particularly during the busy drop-off and pick-up hours. Historically, these dedicated individuals have often been perceived, and in some cases, informally acted, as traffic managers. However, in South Carolina, the legal framework for crossing guards is surprisingly restrictive.

The South Carolina Attorney General’s Office has repeatedly clarified that uniformed adult crossing guards are granted limited authority. Their primary and, in essence, sole legal power is to temporarily stop vehicles to assist students in crossing the street. They are explicitly not authorized to direct or control broader traffic congestion on public roadways. This crucial distinction is enshrined in state law (specifically § 56-5-740 and § 59-63-60), which reserves comprehensive traffic direction for certified law enforcement officials.

School Crossing Guard Safety in Question Amid Fatalities and Rising Traffic Concerns

An Attorney General Opinion highlights this nuance, stating that while crossing guards have some lawful authority, it is “limited to ‘assisting school children to cross streets near schools.'” The opinion further clarifies that this authority “does not extend to instructing drivers as to where to stop for the purpose of dropping children off at school” or “reducing traffic congestion caused by vehicles dropping children off or picking them up from school.” This legal straitjacket means that while crossing guards can create a safe window for pedestrians to cross, they cannot alleviate the often-chaotic bottlenecks that form around schools during peak times.

The use of off-duty police officers, who would possess the necessary authority to manage traffic, has been considered by the district, but according to district spokesman Joe Burke, this option is “not available to us at this time” as communicated by local law enforcement.

A Catalyst for Change: Recent Tragedies and a Lawsuit

The limitations of crossing guard authority have been tragically underscored by recent events in York County. In March 2024, Stanley Brucker, a Fort Mill crossing guard, was fatally struck by a vehicle on Springfield Parkway near Fort Mill Elementary School. The subsequent investigation by the Fort Mill Police Department and the 16th Circuit Solicitor’s Office concluded that no criminal charges would be filed against the driver. Video footage revealed that Mr. Brucker, while directing traffic, stepped into the lane of travel without displaying a stop sign towards the approaching vehicle, and was not actively escorting children across the road at the moment of the collision.

Just months later, in October, another crossing guard was injured at Catawba Ridge High School when struck by a vehicle following a two-car collision near the school’s entrance. These incidents have ignited public concern about the safety of crossing guards and the efficacy of current traffic management protocols in school zones.

In the wake of Stanley Brucker’s death, his family has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the Fort Mill School District. The lawsuit alleges that the district failed to provide sufficient safety provisions, arguing that the location where Brucker was stationed was “unreasonably dangerous.” The legal action seeks to compel the district to implement stronger protections for its crossing guards. The district, in response to the lawsuit, has reportedly stated that Brucker was aware of the risk of death, suggesting his actions contributed to the incident.

Anticipated Challenges and a Call for Patience

District officials acknowledge that these new patterns represent a significant departure from previous years and anticipate initial congestion in school zones, particularly during the first few weeks of implementation. They are appealing to the patience and cooperation of students, families, and staff as everyone adjusts to the revised traffic flow. Parents and guardians are strongly encouraged to review the comprehensive details regarding these updated traffic procedures for their respective schools, which have been distributed via email.

Looking Ahead: A Catalyst for Policy Change?

The Fort Mill School District’s decision to modify its traffic management strategy, while rooted in current legal interpretations, highlights a broader issue: the inherent limitations placed on crossing guards and the potential safety implications for both guards and students in increasingly congested school zones. The recent tragedies and the ongoing wrongful death lawsuit may serve as a critical catalyst, pushing for a re-evaluation of state laws and policies regarding school zone safety in South Carolina, and potentially exploring alternative solutions that grant greater authority for traffic management where it is most needed. The safety of the school community hinges on effective and legally sound traffic control, and Fort Mill’s new approach is a significant step in navigating this complex landscape.