Panel to Examine Crossing Guard Costs

As part of the thaw in relations between Moorpark’s City Council and school district board, members of both agencies have agreed to discuss something the city has long sought--sharing the costs of Moorpark’s crossing guard program.

Paying for the city’s crossing guards used to be the city’s legal responsibility. But a 1993 court ruling removed that responsibility, leaving it up to each city’s municipal and school leaders to decide who would fund the local program.

Moorpark officials want to share the cost. And although the idea met with some resistance from district trustees at a joint meeting Wednesday, the two sides agreed to appoint a committee to discuss the issue further.

Board members of the Moorpark Unified School District say they already spend about $500,000 getting children to school safely through their bus program. The district also pays for one crossing guard.

However, at Wednesday’s meeting, school board and City Council members kicked around several ideas for additional funding.

For example, school trustees discussed changing city bus routes to eliminate the need for one of the district’s school buses. The savings could then help pay for a crossing guard.