YouTube

Parents posted a video on the Web site "YouTube."

FERNDALE, Wash. - Parents who say an intersection in front of Skyline Elementary is unsafe have gone to the Web looking for help. They've posted a video on the Web site "YouTube."

Every time she walks her kids home from school, Candace McCain wonders, "Will this be the day one of these cars hits one of these children?"

"There is high potential for something happening... and to not do something is like living in a flood zone and not having flood insurance," she said.

McCain and other members of Skyline Elementary pto have asked administrators to station crossing guards at this intersection near the school.

It's five months into the school year and there are still no guards.

"As soon as they take a foot off of school property they're saying, 'Go ahead guys, and I hope you make it home safe today!'" said McCain.

So McCain decided to take her plea to the Web, posting a video on YouTube. The five-minute clip shows the confusion of cars and kids.

"I checked today and we have well over 300 hits on it, so I think that's pretty good," said McCain.

While there are no reports of children actually being hit at the intersection, there are plenty of reported close calls.

"Vehicles cause accidents... crossing guards don't prevent accidents... there's a pretty strong body of proof that indicates that," said Roger Lehnert, the Superintendent of Ferndale Schools.

He's watched the video on YouTube and recognizes there is problem, but says these things take time.

"I don't think it's an easy fix that people think it is, it's a little bit more complex," he said.

First he says the district wants to look at all schools and come up with a comprehensive plan. They also have to weigh the risks of using crossing guards.

"It increases the liability of the school district, there's just no doubt about that," he said.

So what to do?

The district hopes to have a plan by month's end.

For Candace McCain and other parents like her, the sooner, the better.

"Every day our kids are out there crossing the street and it's dangerous," she said.

Concerned parents plan to meet with the Ferndale School Board tonight to ask them to put crossing guards at the intersection.