Floridas biggest school districts may skip out on armed guardians program, even if Rick....

[steve2470]

http://www.tampabay.com/florida-politics/buzz/2018/03/08/floridas-biggest-school-districts-may-skip-out-on-armed-guardians-program-even-if-rick-scott-signs-it/

Florida’s biggest school districts may skip out on armed ‘guardians’ program, even if Rick Scott signs it


The Legislature's new plan to arm school employees as a last line of defense to an active shooter might never get tested in Florida's biggest school districts.

Officials in 10 of the state's largest systems, which educate nearly 60 percent of all Florida school children, said they have no intention of giving teachers or other staff guns to carry into classrooms.

"I believe the people carrying weapons should be law enforcement officers and not our employees," said Seminole County school superintendent Walt Griffin, echoing comments of his large-district peers. "I do not support our hard-working teachers having the responsibility of carrying a weapon."

The Broward, Duval and Hillsborough county school boards adopted formal statements Tuesday opposing the idea of arming school personnel, and calling for adequate funding to support sworn officers in the schools instead. A day earlier, Miami-Dade superintendent Alberto Carvalho made clear his district's position, saying anyone who thinks arming educators is a solution is "absolutely out of their mind."


ETA:

The amendment also changed the name of the program from “marshal” to the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program, after the coach who died trying to save some of the victims of the Feb. 14 mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. In all, 17 died.

The program is optional and requires the approval of the county sheriff’s office, the local school board and employees who volunteer and receive 132 hours of training.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/politics/political-pulse/os-gun-safety-senate-vote-20180305-story.html

[mainstreetonce]

1. Wouldn't it have to be voluntary?

You can't require a teacher to carry a gun.

[lpbk2713]

2. Polk County school supt is against armed teachers.

Teachers should be teaching.

Link: http://www.theledger.com/news/20180306/polk-school-superintendent-says-no-to-arming-teachers

[steve2470]

3. so glad to hear this! nt

[lpbk2713]

4. It's kind of surprising.

Polk County usually leans red even on matters pertaining to education.