Wausau City Hall. MWC photo by Mike Leischner
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The Wausau Police Department will take over the city’s school crossing guard program after several years with an outside administrator.
All City Management Services has operated the program since 2020, but recent increases have made the partnership “unpractical.” Mayor Doug Diny credits the department with finding a way to help save money without compromising on a needed service. “A number of years ago [the PD] decided to get out of that business and subcontract it. This is essentially un-privatizing it,” said Diny. “It’ll be under the supervision of the Police Department, and they will be able to fill gaps. Not to discount private operations, but this is one of those where it just feels the Police can handle it pretty easily.”
According to a memo from the Council from Captain Nathan Cihlar, ACMS has been “a reliable and professional partner since 2020, but rising expenses have diminished the financial benefit that initially justified the partnership.” The memo adds that the department is prepared to resume full oversight of the program, with all current crossing guards encouraged to apply for their positions with the city.
Diny says that means parents and students shouldn’t notice any changes when the 2026-’27 academic year begins. Crossing Guards will still be posted at 15 locations across the city for two hours each day, one hour before school starts and one hour after the final bell. He says many of the faces won’t change. “Many of them have been the same; they just love doing it, and they will be there [next year.] So I think that part [will be] a relatively smooth transition.”
Cihlar’s memo adds that the move will also bring a bump in pay for those employees, from $20 to $22 an hour.
The measure passed 11-0 and will save the city just over $45,000 annually. The School District also stands to save about $19,500.
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