The School District of Lee County is discussing the possibility of training and arming school employees in cases of school shooting threats on its campuses. School board members are set to talk about the Guardian Program on Monday.
The Guardian Program became a new safety precaution for schools after the Parkland shooting in 2018.
Just this school year, there has been a school shooting threat at Harns Marsh Middle School and a gun found in a backpack at East Lee County High School.
According to Lee County School Board Member Gwynetta Gittens, now more than ever, student safety is a priority. “I think we need to tighten up that security. The whole process of it,” said Gittens.
On Monday, the Lee County School Board will discuss the possibility of using the Guardian Program in its schools. The program’s intention is to add a layer of security to schools.
“We need to look at that from not just financial, but if we’re using guardians that are already there, people that are already getting paid? Is this going to take away from their current job?” Gittens said.
School staff, not including teachers, can volunteer to become guardians or personnel can be hired for the task. After completing screenings and 144 hours of training, the guardians are equipped to respond to school shootings.
Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd didn’t hesitate to implement changes after tragedy struck a South Florida school.
“When seconds count, minutes do no good,” Judd said.
When the Florida Legislature passed the Marjory Stoneman Douglas School Safety Act in March, requiring all schools in Florida to have at least one school resource officer or armed school guardian, Judd, in collaboration with the Polk County Schools superintendent, moved quickly to choose and implement the latter.
“The guardian is better trained,” Judd said. “The guardian receives 25% more firearms training than a certified police officer in the state of Florida and has to qualify five points higher than a certified police officer.”
Monday morning, Judd invited cameras to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office Training Center and Firing Range, where prospective guardians are getting training, to see the training and trainees in action.
Around 150 civilians – some young, some old, some new to law enforcement, some former military – are undergoing 144 hours of intensive tactical training, including gun safety, gun handling, shoot/no-shoot scenario training, simulation training, live-fire training, and classroom training.
They will not be school resource officers; they will not be disciplinarians.
“These individuals will be responsible for working with the district’s Safe Schools division to provide security to our campuses, conduct necessary drills, oversee crime prevention initiatives and programs with students, conduct surveillance and other security-related tasks,” a Polk County Sheriff’s Office spokesman said.