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Cleveland elementary school student holds umbrella for crossing guard: "They deserve a lot more"

Meet fifth grader Karl West, who already knows how to be a perfect gentleman.

CLEVELAND — We know our kids have been through a lot with the pandemic and changing school guidelines, but that didn't stop one CMSD student from still doing some good at Garfield School.

Meet fifth grader Karl West, who was waiting for his mom to pick him up from school one rainy day...and we mean really rainy. When he crossed the street, he thanked his crossing guard, but noticed something. She didn't have an umbrella. So Karl asked her why. 

The guard, Barbara Dunn, said with everything in her hands, she couldn't also carry an umbrella. And that's when Karl took matters into his own hands. Until his mom came to pick him up, Karl stayed there and kept Barbara out of the rain.

His good deed was noticed by Chris Ronayne, former University Circle Inc. president and current candidate for Cuyahoga County Executive, who was touched by what he saw.

We met up with Karl, and asked him why he decided to take the time out of his day. He says crossing guards don't get enough respect for their tough job.

"They help you everyday, no matter what, if it's raining or nothing, you should always help crossing guards if your mom or parent is not there, because they do a lot for you."

And his actions make his mom so proud. She says it's the same sort of thing he does for her around the house.

"Every morning he's start the car. When it's snowing out, he'll brush off the car. That's just who he is, he's a gentlemen."

And what's even better, Garfield School principal Jacob Bosley awarded Karl 100 school points to use.

"When I told [Barbara] about the photo and showed her the photo last week, I thought she was gonna cry," Bosley says. "She was just so excited, and so touched. Great job Karl."

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