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Fairfax County is preparing to rely more heavily on private contractors for school crossing guards, a move intended to keep police officers available for patrols and emergency calls.

Under County Executive Bryan Hill’s proposed fiscal year 2027 budget, released Tuesday, Feb. 17, the Fairfax County Police Department would eliminate crossing guards at public high schools and cut 13 full-time positions. Budget documents estimate the change would save $1.89 million.

FCPD would continue overseeing crossing guards at elementary and middle schools. When positions are vacant, however, contractors would fill the gaps instead of sworn officers being pulled from patrols or other duties.

The proposed budget says contractor coverage would cost significantly less than assigning police officers and is not expected to hurt service at elementary or middle schools.

Police began exploring private crossing guard services in July 2024. Staffing problems had already prompted the department to stop covering school crossings in Fort Belvoir and Herndon earlier that year.

FCPD is responsible for 328 daily crossings at 164 locations, with coverage needed twice each school day. Police officials told county leaders that using uniformed patrol officers to cover vacancies had become an unsustainable drain. Officers stationed at crossings cannot respond to service calls and receive overtime pay for the assignments.

The county also considered establishing community safety officer positions to manage crossings, noise complaints and other non-emergency issues. The proposed budget indicates contractors have emerged as the preferred approach.

High school guards face elimination again

Fairfax County considered ending its high school crossing guard program during the previous budget cycle as part of a broader group of public-safety reductions.

When supervisors adopted the fiscal year 2026 budget in May, they used one-time funding to preserve 16 dedicated crossing guard positions for another year.

Meanwhile, the county had begun seeking private providers. It awarded California-based All City Management Services a five-year contract on July 14, 2025.

The agreement began Aug. 1, 2025, and runs through July 31, 2030, with five optional one-year renewals. It totals $485,679 and sets guard pay at $27.25 per hour. Funding for crosswalk delineators, cones and other safety equipment was also included.

By comparison, Fairfax County’s fiscal year 2025 budget provided $2 million for 62 dedicated crossing guards and another $1.5 million for overtime paid to officers covering vacancies.

Contractor pilot reaches 31 schools

Fairfax County launched a contractor-supported pilot at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year. All City Management Services now supplies crossing guards at 31 schools, most of them elementary campuses.

The participating elementary schools are Aldrin, Armstrong, Bailey’s, Beach Tree, Bucknell, Chesterbrook, Clearview, Clermont, Crestwood, Cunningham Park, Dranesville, Fairhill, Flint Hill, Forest Edge, Groveton, Hutchison, Kent Gardens, Kings Park, Longfellow, Mason Crest, McNair, Parklawn, Ravensworth, Riverside, Vienna, Westbriar, Westgate and West Springfield.

Irving Middle School and Hayfield and McLean high schools are also participating.

Despite the contractor’s assistance and improved staffing across the police department, 18 crossing guard vacancies were still being covered by sworn officers as of Feb. 5.

The contract can expand to additional sites. In its request for proposals, the county sought coverage for as many as 54 designated crossing locations, with the ability to add locations on at least five hours’ notice.

Results from the pilot are scheduled to be presented at the Board of Supervisors’ safety and security committee meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 24.

Franconia District Supervisor Rodney Lusk, the committee’s chair, said crossing guards provide a trained, visible presence that helps students and families navigate busy roads. He also emphasized that officers assigned to crossings cannot leave to answer service calls.

“In an emergency, every second counts, so it is imperative that officers are available to respond,” Lusk said.