The Fairfax County Police Department is hiring school crossing guards, including at Oakton High School, as the program that puts them on the street marks its 75th year.

The FCPD School Crossing Guard Program launched in October 1951 with 10 guards. It now covers 95 locations and 185 crossings daily during the school year, the department announced Sept. 30.

The open positions are part-time, Monday through Friday. Morning shifts run from 7 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. and afternoon shifts from 2 p.m. to 4:45 p.m. Applicants need at least a high school diploma or GED. Pay ranges from $36,588 to $64,030, and hiring is on a rolling basis, WUSA9 reported.

The hiring push follows the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors' Sept. 15 unanimous approval of $707,908 to restore crossing guard coverage at 10 high schools, including Oakton. The May 2026 budget had cut $1.89 million and eliminated 13 full-time crossing guard positions, ending coverage at those schools.

The FCPD temporarily brought guards back to the 10 schools on Sept. 2, one day after a 16-year-old student was struck by a vehicle while walking to South Lakes High School, FFXnow reported. The Board's Sept. 15 vote made the restoration permanent, funding 11 crossings at Annandale, Centreville, Chantilly, Edison, McLean, Oakton, South County, South Lakes, West Springfield and West Potomac high schools.

Coverage at those locations will come from a mix of uniformed police officers and private contractors, according to Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McKay.

Deputy County Executive Tom Arnold wrote in a Sept. 11 memo to the Board that the department would work to rehire former crossing guards and recruit new ones. "Where former crossing guards are unavailable or choose not to return, FCPD will recruit, hire, and train new crossing guards or utilize contracted resources as necessary to ensure continuity of coverage," Arnold wrote.

The cuts drew sharp criticism. Springfield District Supervisor Pat Herrity, who had opposed the original budget cut, told WUSA9 on Sept. 14 that eliminating the guards was "It was one of the, frankly, the dumber decisions this board has made."

The Board also voted 10-0 on Sept. 15 to create a joint working group with the School Board on transportation safety around schools. That group is expected to bring proposals in time for fiscal year 2028 budget discussions next spring.

Residents interested in applying can find the posting on the Fairfax County career page at governmentjobs.com.