Volusia Schools renew Guardian Program for sixth year: What does the program look like?
For the sixth consecutive year, Volusia County Schools has renewed its Guardian Program, which employs armed personnel to patrol district school campuses.
The program was established as part of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, enacted in 2018 by the Florida Legislature after a shooting at the Parkland high school killed 17 people earlier that year .
The program is also referred to as the Chris Hixon, Coach Aaron Feis and Coach Scott Beigel Guardian Program, after three school employees who were killed in the shooting.
Since then, 47 counties statewide have adopted the program.
In a 3-2 vote last month, Flagler County Schools voted against a proposal to adopt the program, which would have allowed district employees, including teachers, to volunteer for additional duties, which could include carrying handguns.
What are the program’s “guardians” responsible for? What does the program look like in Volusia County?
Here is what we know:
What is the Guardian Program?
The Guardian Program allows school districts in Florida to employ personnel “to respond immediately in the event of a school shooting,” according to the Florida Department of Education.
“Guardians are armed personnel who aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises.”
But guardians are not necessarily teachers or district employees with no previous firearm experience.
According to the DOE, guardians “are either school employees who volunteer to serve in addition to official job duties or personnel hired for the specific purpose of serving as a school guardian.”
School districts partner with their county’s sheriff’s office to establish the program’s parameters, which is made possible through state funding.
According to Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, chairman of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission which recommended the program in 2018, the state spends just over $2 million every year to provide training for guardians.
FAST testing scores: How did Volusia, Flagler schools perform?
“Guardians must pass psychological and drug screenings, and successfully complete a minimum of 144 hours of training,” according to the department.
What does Volusia Schools’ Guardian Program look like?
According to Chastity Burke, the district’s safety and security coordinator, the district employs approximately 90 school guardians.
“We have been intentional and proactive by adding additional school guardians in our schools over the years,” Burke wrote in an email to The News-Journal. “Our school guardians are Volusia County Schools employees who are hired for the specific purpose of serving as a school guardian. Our school guardians are either prior law enforcement, military or security.”
According to Burke, Volusia Schools employees, including teachers, are prohibited from volunteering for the role, even though the Guardian Program permits it.
The 144 hours of required training consist of 12 hours of a certified nationally recognized diversity training and 132 total hours of comprehensive firearm safety and proficiency training conducted by Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission certified instructors from the Volusia Sheriff’s Office, according to the district.
This training, done in partnership with the Volusia Sheriff's Office, Burke said, happens “throughout the year.” The program costs the county approximately $95,000 annually, according to the district.
“Candidates must pass a psychological evaluation administered by a licensed psychologist designated by the Department of Law Enforcement and submit the results of the evaluation to the sheriff's office, as well as submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent random drug tests in accordance with the statutory requirements and the sheriff's office,” Burke wrote.
Guardians carry 9 mm Glock pistols, but they don't have the authority to arrest individuals.
Flager board votes 'no': Flagler School Board votes 3-2 against proposed Guardian Program to arm school staff
In addition to the program, the district’s other measures to increase school safety include “emergency plans; regular drills and exercises; site security assessments; infrastructure improvements; security cameras; fencing (single point of entry in all schools); access controls (storefronts, door locking bars); and visitor management systems,” Burke wrote.
Flagler Schools votes 'no' on Guardian Program
The Flagler School Board voted 3-2 against the proposed adoption of the program last month.
The program would have required a $100,000 state grant application from the sheriff's office.
Board members who voted "no" shared the sentiment that the district is not ready yet for the program.
“Yes, it would be wonderful to have force multiplier,” said Cheryl Massaro, the board's chair. “Is Flagler County ready to take that step? I don’t think so. Not this year.”
Board member Will Furry, who voted in favor of the program, argued that the program would not be implemented right away and would take at least a year before all preparation (background checks, training, etc.) took place.
Which Florida counties have adopted the Guardian Program?
According to the state’s Department of Education, the 46 counties (in addition to Volusia) participating in the program are:
Alachua.
Baker.
Bay.
Bradford.
Brevard.
Broward.
Citrus.
Clay.
Dade.
Duval.
Escambia.
Franklin.
Gadsden.
Gilchrist.
Gulf.
Hamilton.
Hendry.
Hernando.
Hillsborough.
Holmes.
Jackson.
Lafayette.
Lake.
Leon.
Madison.
Manatee.
Marion.
Martin.
Nassau.
Okaloosa.
Okeechobee.
Orange.
Osceola.
Palm Beach.
Pasco.
Pinellas.
Polk.
Putnam.
Santa Rosa.
Sarasota.
St. Johns.
Sumter.
Suwannee.
Taylor.
Wakulla.
Walton.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Volusia County Schools renew Guardian Program for sixth year.
