Dedicated crossing guards at Fairfax County high schools could return after county officials proposed restoring funding that was cut from the fiscal 2027 budget.
The positions were eliminated during the county’s budget process last spring after officials said data, research and police reviews showed the change could be made safely. Officials also noted Fairfax County was the only Northern Virginia jurisdiction providing crossing guards at high schools.
In a memo issued on Friday, Deputy County Executive Tom Arnold is recommending that the county use carryover funding from the current fiscal year to pay for the crossing guards, as well as other high school safety improvements.
The memo was encouraging news for many Virginia leaders, including Reston Supervisor Walter Alcorn. He said that he was “very happy to see the deputy county executive today recommending restoration of crossing guard funding in a memo responding to the board matter.”
Relates stories
Alcorn also welcomed a review of a possible additional crosswalk at South Lakes High School, along with other safety improvements at high schools across the county.
Supervisors revisited the issue after a South Lakes High School student was struck by a vehicle. The student was not in a crosswalk at the time.
At an Aug. 25 meeting, Supervisors Pat Herrity, Rodney Lusk and Walter Alcorn directed the county executive to work with Fairfax County Public Schools and Fairfax County police to identify safety concerns linked to the removal of high school crossing guards, potential solutions and the resources needed to address them.
“A more comprehensive approach to school transportation safety is also needed,” Alcorn said. “Getting kids to school more safely is one of my priorities and we must find a way to pay for it.”
Source
