Please don’t use outdated reports with misrepresented data to justify a terrible policy decision. Bring back the crossing guards and stop playing politics with community safety.
This community has organized before when incompetence, corruption and poor governance show themselves. We have no problem doing it again.
It is imperative you restore the school crossing guard program. It is not the responsibility of the school district to provide school crossing guards, these are city streets. You know the dangers of not providing crossing guards but chose to cancel the program.
I am for Measure Z but if you don't restore funding to a vitally important program that protects our children, I have my doubts on how you will be good stewards of the extra money.
I understand you have a vehicle incentive program on the agenda that will cost the city 1.5million. Why now when you are facing a huge budget crisis and vital services are not being funded?
All of you live in Orange, stop hurting your fellow residents.
Reinstate funding for the school crossing guard program!!
* The vehicle incentive program on the agenda will cost the city 1.5million in tax dollars in a city that is cutting programs because of a “budget crisis”
* Why should Orange residents vote to approve a tax increase when the city is just going to throw away that income on the proposed “car buyer incentive program”?
* How can we trust a council that votes yes to raises and incentive kickbacks, but no to children’s safety?
* On the Measure Z proposed tax increase, “maintaining safe routes to school” is listed as one of the reasons we need to raise our taxes. If the city isn't going to provide that, then why should we vote to raise our taxes?
* OUSD protects children in the areas they are equipped to do so. This is not their job. This is a city function. OUSD doesn’t get to decide the speed limit, crosswalk layout, painting, lighting, stop sign or signal installation, etc. Why would they monitor someone else’s area?
* Every other district in Orange County doesn’t have to pay for the crossing guards (the city has found two beach districts that cover the cost)
* Pedestrians are not the only ones protected. Crossing guards also keep traffic flowing and provide a central point for when cars should proceed (or not)
* OUSD doesn’t need to be the ONLY large school district in Orange County paying to monitor city streets.
Because that’s the duty of the city.
This doesn’t only impact students who attend schools within the city. If OUSD has to pay for crossing guards the financial impact will be significant. The equivalent of one elementary school modernization will be spent every 5 years.
* City of Orange has to make cuts to balance their budget, why are you leaving kids out of your public safety analysis? Just because OUSD has been prudent with their funds and dealt with pension funding in a timely manner, doesn’t mean we owe the city of Orange to help them out of their budgetary crisis to the financial and educational detriment of all OUSD students.
We need the city of orange to be good stewards of our tax dollars. Do not punish our students for the problems of the city. Raises need to be put on hold. The vehicle incentive program needs to be scrapped. The crossing guards need to be fully funded!! The safety of our children should ALWAYS come first.
Thank you for your continued engagement on the issue of crossing guard funding and student safety. I support reinstating the crossing guard funding, effective immediately.
The decision to cut funding for crossing guards and shift the responsibility to the local school district is not unprecedented, but it reflects a troubling trend in political decision-making—one that directly affects our children. In a recent email exchange, Mayor Dan Slater stated that, "Santa Ana recently did the same thing." I happen to work in Santa Ana and while it’s true that Santa Ana recently voted to transition to an all-volunteer force for crossing guards, there is a key distinction: Santa Ana has continued to fund their current crossing guards through 2026, with an option to extend funding for an additional two years. This allows for a safe and organized transition, with ample time to plan, recruit, and properly train volunteers - OR - identify that this may not be a feasible option. Unfortunately, Orange has taken a different and more abrupt approach, cutting funding without a clear transition plan in place.
I urge the council to reconsider this decision and explore more permanent solutions. This includes the full reinstatement of crossing guards at high-risk intersections or the installation of long-term safety measures, such as traffic lights at critical crossings. Simply expecting parents to volunteer their time is neither a practical nor responsible solution. This is not just a logistical issue—it’s a matter of political accountability and leadership. It’s disheartening to see this serious safety issue downplayed, with responsibility passed onto volunteers without the necessary support, training, or planning.
Our children’s safety should not be part of a political game. It requires immediate and thoughtful action. I hope you will take these concerns seriously and prioritize the well-being of our community by finding a long-term solution.
Sincerely,
Dawn Aguila
Orange Resident & La Veta Elementary School Parent
Please don’t use outdated reports with misrepresented data to justify a terrible policy decision. Bring back the crossing guards and stop playing politics with community safety.
This community has organized before when incompetence, corruption and poor governance show themselves. We have no problem doing it again.
Crossing guards are necessary. Without them, children are more at risk of getting hit by speeding cars.
Lewis Livingston
It is imperative you restore the school crossing guard program. It is not the responsibility of the school district to provide school crossing guards, these are city streets. You know the dangers of not providing crossing guards but chose to cancel the program.
I am for Measure Z but if you don't restore funding to a vitally important program that protects our children, I have my doubts on how you will be good stewards of the extra money.
I understand you have a vehicle incentive program on the agenda that will cost the city 1.5million. Why now when you are facing a huge budget crisis and vital services are not being funded?
All of you live in Orange, stop hurting your fellow residents.
Reinstate funding for the school crossing guard program!!
* The vehicle incentive program on the agenda will cost the city 1.5million in tax dollars in a city that is cutting programs because of a “budget crisis”
* Why should Orange residents vote to approve a tax increase when the city is just going to throw away that income on the proposed “car buyer incentive program”?
* How can we trust a council that votes yes to raises and incentive kickbacks, but no to children’s safety?
* On the Measure Z proposed tax increase, “maintaining safe routes to school” is listed as one of the reasons we need to raise our taxes. If the city isn't going to provide that, then why should we vote to raise our taxes?
* OUSD protects children in the areas they are equipped to do so. This is not their job. This is a city function. OUSD doesn’t get to decide the speed limit, crosswalk layout, painting, lighting, stop sign or signal installation, etc. Why would they monitor someone else’s area?
* Every other district in Orange County doesn’t have to pay for the crossing guards (the city has found two beach districts that cover the cost)
* Pedestrians are not the only ones protected. Crossing guards also keep traffic flowing and provide a central point for when cars should proceed (or not)
* OUSD doesn’t need to be the ONLY large school district in Orange County paying to monitor city streets.
Because that’s the duty of the city.
This doesn’t only impact students who attend schools within the city. If OUSD has to pay for crossing guards the financial impact will be significant. The equivalent of one elementary school modernization will be spent every 5 years.
* City of Orange has to make cuts to balance their budget, why are you leaving kids out of your public safety analysis? Just because OUSD has been prudent with their funds and dealt with pension funding in a timely manner, doesn’t mean we owe the city of Orange to help them out of their budgetary crisis to the financial and educational detriment of all OUSD students.
We need the city of orange to be good stewards of our tax dollars. Do not punish our students for the problems of the city. Raises need to be put on hold. The vehicle incentive program needs to be scrapped. The crossing guards need to be fully funded!! The safety of our children should ALWAYS come first.
As a parent of 3 children in OUSD, support adding school crossing guards into the 2024-25 budget.
Dear Mayor and City Council Members,
Thank you for your continued engagement on the issue of crossing guard funding and student safety. I support reinstating the crossing guard funding, effective immediately.
The decision to cut funding for crossing guards and shift the responsibility to the local school district is not unprecedented, but it reflects a troubling trend in political decision-making—one that directly affects our children. In a recent email exchange, Mayor Dan Slater stated that, "Santa Ana recently did the same thing." I happen to work in Santa Ana and while it’s true that Santa Ana recently voted to transition to an all-volunteer force for crossing guards, there is a key distinction: Santa Ana has continued to fund their current crossing guards through 2026, with an option to extend funding for an additional two years. This allows for a safe and organized transition, with ample time to plan, recruit, and properly train volunteers - OR - identify that this may not be a feasible option. Unfortunately, Orange has taken a different and more abrupt approach, cutting funding without a clear transition plan in place.
I urge the council to reconsider this decision and explore more permanent solutions. This includes the full reinstatement of crossing guards at high-risk intersections or the installation of long-term safety measures, such as traffic lights at critical crossings. Simply expecting parents to volunteer their time is neither a practical nor responsible solution. This is not just a logistical issue—it’s a matter of political accountability and leadership. It’s disheartening to see this serious safety issue downplayed, with responsibility passed onto volunteers without the necessary support, training, or planning.
Our children’s safety should not be part of a political game. It requires immediate and thoughtful action. I hope you will take these concerns seriously and prioritize the well-being of our community by finding a long-term solution.
Sincerely,
Dawn Aguila
Orange Resident & La Veta Elementary School Parent
I would much rather see staffed crossing guards than police officials assisting our children to school.
I support adding school crossing guards into the 2024-25 budget, at a minimum for the elementary schools in Orange.