Fairfax County is considering reversing its decision to cut high school crossing guards, with supervisors due to vote next week on emergency funding to keep the service in place for the remainder of the school year.
The move follows the temporary return of crossing guards at 10 schools after a 16-year-old pupil was struck by a car near South Lakes High School in Reston on 1 September.
Fairfax County police said the teenager was not in a marked crossing or at a location normally covered by a guard. The pupil suffered minor injuries, according to Fairfax County Public Schools.
Nevertheless, the incident intensified criticism of the budget decision, which removed crossing guards from high schools at the start of the new academic year. Officers are currently providing cover before and after school while the county reviews the policy.
The affected schools include South Lakes, Centreville, West Potomac, McLean, Edison, Annandale, South County, West Springfield, Chantilly and Oakton. Crossing guards remain in place at elementary and middle schools, using a combination of contractors and police officers.
Fairfax County crossing guards face key funding vote
The county school board discussed the issue during a work session on Tuesday. Board member Melanie Meren questioned why police resources were being used for duties she said could be carried out more cheaply by crossing guards.
“Understanding crossing guards aren’t full-time employees, I don’t understand why the county is paying for police to do crossing guard duties when surely it’s less expensive to have those crossing guards back,” she said.
The cuts were included in Fairfax County’s latest budget and were originally expected to save about $1.9 million. Official budget documents say the reduction eliminated 13 full-time crossing guard posts at high schools, while contracted staff would be used to fill vacancies at elementary and middle schools.
Supervisor Pat Herrity is among the county leaders calling for the money to be restored. He said student safety should not be sacrificed in an attempt to reduce spending.
“This board’s done a lot of dumb things. This is among the dumbest things I’ve ever seen them do,” Mr Herrity said. “It was done without data, and just didnt make any sense.”
The Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing and vote on 15 September on whether to use carryover funding for the crossing guard service. The county has about $1.7 million in surplus funds available for consideration.
Fairfax County Public Schools said it remained hopeful that the temporary arrangement would become permanent, while urging pupils, families and motorists to exercise extra caution around schools and follow traffic laws.
