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Crossing guards budget modestly up as county seeks substitutes to cover posts
Summary
The Crossing Guards program requested a FY26 operating budget of $2,946,171, a 6.7% increase focused on wages and benefits; supervisors said the system is fully staffed but short on substitute guards needed to cover absences.
Dominic Gregory, supervisor for New Castle County Crossing Guards, presented the division’s FY26 request to County Council on May 22, asking for an operating budget of $2,946,171 — an increase of $184,192 (6.7%) driven by salary and benefit changes.
Gregory said the division currently staffs 89 schools and operates 239 school crossings across public, private and Catholic schools. He emphasized the program’s primary hiring challenge is the substitute pool: while many regular posts are filled, the county faces shortfalls when substitutes are needed for vacations or sick leave. The division plans a mass interview push in July to expand the substitute roster and maintain coverage into the next school year.
Gregory highlighted accomplishments including a new crossing guard database for scheduling and tracking and active outreach to senior centers for hiring. The budget materials show no new full‑time positions requested and cite wage and benefit adjustments as the main drivers of the requested increase.
Council members noted the program’s role in community safety and daily interactions with students. Councilman Street praised guards’ relationships with children in his remarks and recommended continued support for their safety and working conditions.
Council did not vote on the division request on May 22; follow‑up staffing and substitute‑pool initiatives will proceed as part of normal administration and budget adoption processes.
