Fairfax County Proposes Restoring High School Crossing Guard Funding

Fairfax County staff are recommending $707,908 in carryover funding to restore 11 high school crossing-guard positions eliminated in the fiscal year 2027 budget, according to a memo from Deputy County Executive Tom Arnold.

Coverage would return at Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, Edison, McLean, Oakton, South County, South Lakes, West Springfield and West Potomac high schools, with two posts at South Lakes after a Sept. 1 crash injured a 16-year-old student. Police temporarily restored service at the affected schools the next day.

The original $1.89 million cut removed 13 full-time high school crossing-guard roles amid budget and staffing pressure. Since school started Aug. 24, several students have been struck while walking, biking or scootering, intensifying demands for action.

Staff say 11 full-time positions can cover the sites and that evaluations found congestion driven largely by student drivers and kiss-and-ride drop-offs outside designated areas. They also floated longer-term ideas such as rapid flashing beacons, additional crosswalks and speed feedback signs, without dedicated funding yet.

Hunter Mill Supervisor Walter Alcorn said he supports restoring South Lakes coverage and reviewing other safety upgrades. Longer-term funding debates are expected as another tight budget season approaches.

Email Fairfax County Supervisors At:
Jeff McKay → chairman@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Kathy Smith (Sully District) sully@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Rachna Heizer (Braddock District) braddock@fairfaxcounty.gov,
James Bierman (Dranesville District) dranesville@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Rodney Lusk (Franconia District) franconia@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Walter Alcorn (Hunter Mill District) huntermill@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Andres Jimenez (Mason District) mason@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Daniel Storck (Mount Vernon District)  mtvernon@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Dalia Palchik (Providence District)  providence@fairfaxcounty.gov,
Pat Herrity (Springfield District) springfield@fairfaxcounty.gov,

 

To Contact Fairfax School Board Members:
All Members - FairfaxCountySchoolBoard@fcps.edu,
Tom Dannan - tfdannan@fcps.edu, 
Robyn Lady - ralady1@fcps.edu,
Marcia St. John-Cunning -  mstjohncunni@fcps.edu,
Melanie Meren - HunterMillStaff@fcps.edu,
Ricardy Anderson - randerson@fcps.edu,
Mateo Dunne - mdunne@fcps.edu,
Karl Frisch - kfrisch@fcps.edu,
Sandy Anderson - sanderson@fcps.edu,
Seema Dixit - sdixit@fcps.edu,
Kyle McDaniel - kmcdaniel@fcps.edu,
Ryan McElveen - rlmcelveen@fcps.edu,
Ilryong Moon - imoon@fcps.edu,

Email the Fairfax City Board/Council:
Catherine S. Read, Catherine.Read@fairfaxva.gov,
Anthony T. Amos, Anthony.Amos@fairfaxva.gov,
Billy M. Bates, Billy.Bates@fairfaxva.gov,
Stacy R. Hall, Stacy.Hall@fairfaxva.gov,
Stacey D. Hardy-Chandler, Stacey.Hardy-Chandler@fairfaxva.gov,
Rachel M. McQuillen, Rachel.McQuillen@fairfaxva.gov,
Thomas D. Peterson, Tom.Peterson@fairfaxva.gov,

Email the Fairfax City School Board:
Lauren Bartelme, Lauren.Bartelme@fairfaxva.gov,
Kristina Cecere, Kristina.Cecere@fairfaxva.gov,
Amit Hickman, Amit.Hickman@fairfaxva.gov,
Sarah Kelsey, Sarah.Kelsey@fairfaxva.gov,
Carolyn Pitches, Carolyn.Pitches@fairfaxva.gov,