Clark County Is Adding $715,557 a Year for More School Crossing Guards

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Clark County approved $715,557 more per year for school crossing guards, which will add guard locations and cover more guards near schools. With the increase, the most the county can spend on the crossing guard contract rises to nearly $64 million a year.

That is real money aimed at one of the most stressful parts of a parent's day: getting kids across busy streets before and after school. But the people closest to the issue say money for more spots is only part of the fix. They point to low pay and high turnover as the reason some busy crossings still have fewer guards than they need.

Here is what the county approved, why it matters for families, and what you can do if you are worried about a crossing near your home.

What Happened

FOX5 Vegas reported on Oct. 21, 2026, that Clark County approved an annual increase of more than $715,000 for crossing guard coverage. A FOX5 post embedded in the story put the exact figure at $715,557. The Clark County Board of County Commissioners approved an amendment to the crossing guard contract that expands crossing guard locations and covers additional guards.

With the change, the maximum contract total rises to nearly $64 million a year, according to FOX5. The contract runs through June 2028. It also has an option to renew for seven more one-year periods after that. So this is not a short-term patch. It is part of a long-running agreement that could stay in place for years.

The story also gave a voice to a local safety advocate. Krista Holloway is the founder of Walk Safely LV, a nonprofit she started after a student died while crossing North Buffalo Drive near Arbor View High School in the northwest valley. Holloway told FOX5 that when she and other parents first volunteered at that crossing, there were four guards, one in each lane. She says there is now one guard per day. "That's all they want to pay for," she said.

Holloway also spoke about the job itself. She says crossing guard pay is around $17 an hour, turnover is high, and the hours are limited. Her point is simple: it is hard to keep good people in a job that pays modestly and only offers a few hours a day. She also shared how much the role means to her personally. "I would rather be hit than a student be hit," she said.

FOX5 also cited Clark County School District data showing 64 students have been hit by vehicles so far this school year. That number is a big part of why parents and advocates keep pushing for more protection at school crossings.

To put the numbers in perspective, the $715,557 increase is a small slice of a contract that can reach nearly $64 million a year. That tells you the county already spends a lot on crossing guards, and this vote adds more coverage on top. It also shows why a few hundred thousand dollars can go a long way at the crossing level. Each new guard location is one more corner where a child gets help crossing.

Why It Matters to Las Vegas Residents

If you have kids who walk or bike to school, this story is about your mornings. A crossing guard is often the only adult standing between a child and a driver who is rushing, distracted, or blinded by the sun. More funded guard spots should mean more crossings with a trained adult on duty.

A good crossing guard does more than hold up a sign. They learn the kids by name. They notice the driver who always speeds through. They know which corner floods with cars at 7:45 a.m. and which kids tend to run late. That kind of local knowledge is hard to replace, which is one more reason turnover matters so much.

Even if you do not have kids in school, this touches your daily drive. Many of us pass through school zones on the way to work. More guards at more crossings means more places where you will be asked to stop and wait. That is a small price for safer streets. Build a few extra minutes into your school-hour commute.

The pay and turnover issue matters too. Funding a guard spot is not the same as filling it. If a position stays empty because it is hard to hire for, the crossing may still be short on help. That is what Holloway says happened at the Buffalo Drive crossing by Arbor View High, which went from four guards to one. Parents should know that a funded spot and a staffed spot are two different things.

There is also a neighborhood angle. Many Las Vegas families pick a home based on the school nearby and how kids will get there. A street with a safe, staffed crossing feels very different from one where kids dart across four lanes of traffic. Busy roads like Buffalo Drive run right past schools in many parts of the valley. The more those crossings are protected, the better daily life gets for the families who live around them.

One more point: this contract covers Clark County's crossing guard program. If you live inside a city such as Las Vegas, Henderson, or North Las Vegas, your city may handle crossing guards in its own way. If you are not sure who covers the crossing near your home, ask your school's front office or your local government.

High school students deserve a special mention. Arbor View is a high school, and teens often walk on their own, with earbuds in and phones in hand. They may feel too old for a crossing guard, but they cross the same busy roads as younger kids, often at faster speeds and with less attention. A guard at a high school crossing protects teens who might not protect themselves.

Background and History

Student pedestrian safety has been a steady concern in Clark County. We have covered students being hit near schools several times this year, and the numbers keep coming up in news reports and community meetings. The CCSD data FOX5 cited, 64 students hit by vehicles so far this school year, shows why the topic does not go away.

Walk Safely LV came out of that concern. Holloway started the nonprofit after the death of a student crossing North Buffalo Drive near Arbor View High School. Since then, she and other parents have volunteered at that crossing and pushed for more coverage. Their story is a reminder that a lot of school safety work starts with parents who show up.

The county's crossing guard program runs through a contract, and the board can change that contract when needs grow. This latest amendment adds locations and guards. It sits on top of an agreement that already allowed spending in the tens of millions of dollars each year, now up to nearly $64 million.

Other groups are joining the push too. This week we also covered the Las Vegas Grand Prix giving $100,000 for a valley-wide school traffic safety effort, and a video of drivers ignoring a flashing crosswalk in Henderson while a pedestrian with a stroller waited. Those stories are linked at the top of this page. Put together, they show a valley paying closer attention to how people, and especially kids, get across our streets.

What Happens Next

With the funding approved, the next step is putting guards at the added locations. FOX5's report did not list which new crossings will get guards or when each will be staffed. Watch for updates from your school and from the county on where the new spots are.

The bigger question is hiring. If pay of about $17 an hour and limited hours keep turnover high, as Holloway says, filling every funded spot could be a challenge. Parents and advocates like Walk Safely LV are likely to keep raising pay and staffing as the next issue. Keep an eye on future county meetings if you want to follow that debate.

Parents can help shape what comes next. When a crossing near your school is short on guards, tell the school and the county. Specific reports, like the time of day, the street name, and how many lanes kids have to cross, are more useful than general complaints. The people deciding where new guard spots go need that kind of detail, and parents are the ones who see it every morning.

The contract itself runs through June 2028, with seven optional one-year renewals after that. Any future changes to coverage or cost would come back through the county. That gives residents more chances to weigh in over the next few years.

There is one more thing worth watching: how the county and parents measure success. More funded locations is a clear first step. The real test is whether busy crossings near schools have a guard on duty every school day, and whether the number of students hit by vehicles starts to come down. Those are the numbers families will care about over the next school year.

Ryan's Take

When I help families shop for homes, the school question always comes up. Parents want to know how good the school is. But the very next question is often, "How will my kids get there?" I always suggest driving the route to school at drop-off time before you buy. Look at the crossings. See if there is a guard. Watch how fast cars move. You will learn more in 15 minutes at 7:30 a.m. than you will from any listing description.

I am glad to see the county put more money behind crossing guards. It is a practical fix that helps families right now. I also think Holloway raises a fair point about pay and turnover. A safe crossing needs a person standing there every school day, not just a funded spot on paper. For buyers, a staffed crossing near a school is a real plus. For sellers near a school, it is a detail worth mentioning to buyers with kids. Streets that feel safe to walk are a big part of what makes a neighborhood feel like home.

If you are moving to Las Vegas from out of state, ask me about the walk to school for any home you are serious about. I can help you look at the route, the main roads in between, and whether the crossings have guards. You can also call the school and ask. Families who do that homework up front tend to feel a lot better about their choice on the first day of school.

What You Can Do

Start with your own child's route. Walk it with them, ideally at the time they will really be walking. Point out where the crosswalks are and where a guard is stationed. Teach them to wait for the guard's signal, to make eye contact with drivers, and to never assume a car will stop. If the route has a dangerous crossing with no guard, consider a different path.

If you are worried about a crossing, speak up. Contact your school's front office first, since staff there often know who handles the crossing. You can also reach out to Clark County or, if you live inside city limits, your city. Groups like Walk Safely LV show that parents who show up and ask questions can make a difference.

Here are a few simple questions parents can ask the school office:

• Which crossings near the school have a crossing guard, and at what times?
• Are any guard spots near the school open right now?
• Who should I contact if a guard is missing or a crossing feels unsafe?
• Is the school getting any of the new guard locations?

Talk with your teens too. Ask them to take out their earbuds and put down their phones at every crossing. Remind them that drivers in the morning are often rushed and may not see them. A short talk at the kitchen table can matter as much as any new guard on the corner.

If you have time, you can help in other ways. Some parents walk groups of kids to school together, which puts more adults on the route. Others watch a crossing from a safe spot and share what they see with the school. Small steps from neighbors add up.

And as a driver, do your part. Slow down in school zones. Put your phone away. Stop for crossing guards and for kids in crosswalks every time, even when you are running late. Every driver who slows down near a school makes the guard's job easier and makes the street safer for every child.

Have questions about how this affects your home or neighborhood? Reach out to Ryan Rose or text/call 702-747-5921 anytime. Ryan Rose | Real Broker, LLC | 702-747-5921 | ryan@rosehomeslv.com | rosehomeslv.com

Sources

FOX5 Vegas: "Clark County approves funding increase for crossing guards" (Sophia Bruinsma)