Dear Community Members,
The future of having crossing guards at high schools remains uncertain.
A short-term emergency fix is in place, but your voices are needed to advocate for long-term public safety services at our schools.
A public hearing on Tuesday, September 15, at 10:30am in Fairfax is when to show up and speak up with support. Here’s more information:
Background
You likely know that during this new school year, crossing guards employed by the Fairfax County Police Department were not funded to serve at our high schools. Services remain at elementary and middle schools.
On the seventh day of school, September 1, a South Lakes High School student was hit by a car while going to school. The student is recovering from minor physical injuries. That afternoon, crossing guard services were reinstated just at South Lakes. The next day, services were reinstated at all previously cut locations for arrival and dismissal times: Centreville, West Potomac, McLean, South Lakes, Edison, Annandale, South County, West Springfield, Chantilly, and Oakton.
The decisions about crossing guard funding, and all public safety funding, are made by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. This body is deciding on Tuesday, September 15, whether to use available funds to reinstate high school crossing guard services for the year.
Show up!
There is a public hearing on September 15, when any Fairfax resident can speak to this Board and give public remarks. Also, even just attending to observe and show support with applause is meaningful. Being in the room matters!
Participants can speak for up to three minutes individually or five minutes if representing an organization. The hearing will go as long as there are speakers. Signs are allowed but must be respectful and not block others’ views.
Please register to speak using this link and write “FY 2026 Carryover Review” in the subject line. Registering will add you to the speaker list and assign you a number. Recorded and virtual options are available, too. On-site registration is possible - go to the front of the room and check in with the clerk, but know you must wait until all registered speakers have been called to speak.
Rally!
At 10:00am, join me and community members to get further information in a rally before heading into the 10:30am public hearing. Meet outside in front of the Fairfax County Government Center building entrance: 12000 Government Parkway, Fairfax! This is public engagement!
Excused School Day Absence for Secondary Students
Students in grades 7-12 may be excused for one day per school year to participate in “civic engagement” if they submit the absence request form to their school principal at least three days prior (Sept 10). See Regulation 2234.13 for more details.
Please pass this information to your friends and family, along with the attached flyer. If they cannot attend due to work or personal commitments, please mention those names in your remarks so the Board of Supervisors know that there are more supporters out there.
For questions, please contact the clerk to the Board of Supervisors at
ClerktotheBOS@fairfaxcounty.gov or 703-324-3151. For questions to me, please contact my team at huntermillstaff@fcps.edu.
Thank you, I look forward to seeing our community show up on September 15!
The views expressed herein represent the personal thoughts and ideas of the undersigned, crafted without the use of artificial intelligence, and do not reflect an official position of the FCPS School Board.
The views contained within this newsletter reflect the views of the individual school board member who is the publisher of this newsletter and may not reflect the views of the Fairfax County School Board.
© Fairfax County Public Schools, Fairfax County, Virginia
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