School to begin in Chicago with more guards lining routes children walk in crime-ridden areas

FILE - In this Aug. 26. 2013, file photo, Chicago Police patrol the neighborhood at Gresham Elementary School on the first day of classes in Chicago. Thanks to $1 million from the city, another 100 “Safe Passage” workers will be on routes kids walk through crime-ridden neighborhoods when classes resume Tuesday, Sept. 2, 2014. (AP Photos/M. Spencer Green, File) (The Associated Press)

CHICAGO – More guards will be watching Chicago students to keep them safe on the first day of school.

Thanks to $1 million from the city, another 100 "Safe Passage" workers will be on routes that children walk through crime-ridden neighborhoods when classes resume Tuesday.

There is far less publicity than a year ago, when Mayor Rahm Emanuel's closure of some 50 schools raised concern that children walking to new schools would be crossing gang lines. The worst fears never came to pass, as about 1,200 guards lined the routes last year.

Twenty-seven more schools will be part of the Safe Passage program this year, which already covers 93 schools.

Gov. Pat Quinn has pledged another $10 million in state funds, which will pay for another 600 workers.