Proposed Changes to the School Crossing Guard Program (Spring 2026)

As part of the City's upcoming budget deliberations in June 2026, the Lafayette City Council will consider the future of the School Crossing Guard Program. 

Given the anticipated reduction in funding, City staff is recommending that the program be reduced from 11 staffed crossing guard locations to 7 beginning next school year.  To help prioritize those locations, we conducted a comprehensive, data-driven evaluation of each crossing guard location.

Background on Crossing Guard Program Partnership

Due to significant financial constraints facing Lafayette School District (LAFSD), the LAFSD Governing Board has announced that District funding for the program effective July 1, 2026. The District will also discontinue the management of the crossing guard program. This decision reflects the significant financial constraints facing LAFSD and follows a number of difficult reductions to programs and staffing.

There are currently 11 staffed crossing guard locations serving Lafayette schools. For this current school year, the program cost $236,270, with both agencies contributing roughly half of the cost each.

Crossing Guard Program Data Analysis

To help evaluate which crossing guard locations should continue to be staffed in future school years, the City worked closely with LAFSD to develop evaluation criteria and review existing school travel and traffic safety data. This analysis considered:

• Number of students crossing during school commute periods
• Traffic volumes and patterns in the morning and afternoon
• Vehicle speeds
• Physical characteristics of each crossing, including visibility and number of lanes
• Reported safety incidents over the past five years
• Existing safety features (e.g., signals, striping, traffic calming)
• School- and community-specific considerations

Staff developed the following preliminary recommendations based on the evaluation criteria and scoring methodology:

Recommended Locations to Retain Staffed Crossing Guards

Recommended Locations to Discontinue Staffed Crossing Guard

These staff recommendations are intended to inform City Council budget deliberations. The City Council will consider the ranking analysis together with the ongoing financial sustainability of the crossing guard program and the need to balance limited City resources across a range of community services and priorities. Given the City’s other obligations and the pressing need to address deferred maintenance of capital assets, maintaining staffed crossing guards at all locations could require tradeoffs with other essential programs and services. Final decisions regarding crossing guard locations will be made by the City Council.

Superintendent Brent Stephens has shared: “We fully trust the City’s expertise and judgment to assess the overall size and scope of the program, and to determine the most effective ways to create safe conditions for our students as they walk and bike to and from school.”

Give Your Feedback

The City recognizes that crossing guards provide an important sense of safety and reassurance for many students and families, and understands that proposed changes to the Program may be concerning. The City is committed to navigating this transition thoughtfully, transparently, and with community input. Here’s how you can provide feedback on the proposed changes to the Crossing Guard Program:

• Monday, June 8 — City Council Meeting: The City Council will consider the School Crossing Guard program as part of their FY 2026–2027 budget deliberations. This is a public meeting, and community members are welcome to attend and provide public comment.

• Public Comment: Anyone who wishes to share their perspective with the City Council in advance of the June 8 meeting may submit written comments to cityhall@lovelafayette.org.

Other City Investments in Safety Around Schools

The City remains committed to improving traffic safety throughout Lafayette for people of all ages walking, biking, rolling, and driving, particularly students traveling to and from school.  Over the past several years, the City has implemented more than $1.3 million in school-area safety improvements, including upgraded crosswalks and curb ramps, flashing beacon crossings, signage, curb extensions, and traffic calming measures. The City has also reduced speed limits around all of our schools, and is advancing larger capital projects, including the Connecting Lafayette: Downtown Pathways and Schools Safety Project, which will provide a dedicated pathway connection between downtown Lafayette, Lafayette Elementary School, Stanley Middle School, and the Lafayette-Moraga Trail.

Questions?

Please email questions to Assistant City Manager Tracy Robinson.