- Mirror Lake Elementary
- Homepage
BCPS Teachers Will Not be Armed as Part of The Guardian Program
October 3, 2019
School Board Passed a Resolution Against Arming Teachers in March 2018
The Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program was established in 2018 through the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (SB 7026). In its initial report, the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Commission recommended that having trained armed personnel in schools may improve the response to an active assailant. The initial law specifically excluded teaching personnel. Earlier this year, the state passed SB 7030, which expanded the eligibility to include teachers in the Guardian program.
Although the newly passed law allows districts to train teachers to carry guns in Florida, the School Board of Broward County and Superintendent Robert W. Runcie have adamantly opposed the arming of teachers or administrators in Broward County Public Schools (BCPS). The Board voted on a resolution against arming teachers in March 2018. Without arming our teachers, the Guardian program implemented by the School Board of Broward County created a position of Armed Safe School Officer with no other collateral duties to provide for the protection of BCPS students.
###
ABOUT BROWARD COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
“Committed to educating all students to reach their highest potential.”
Broward County Public Schools (BCPS) is the sixth-largest school district in the nation and the second-largest in the state of Florida. BCPS is Florida’s first fully accredited school system since 1962. BCPS has nearly 270,000 students and approximately 175,000 adult students in 241 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 89 charter schools. BCPS serves a diverse student population, with students representing 204 different countries and 191 different languages. To connect with BCPS, visit browardschools.com, visit browardschools.com, follow us on Twitter @browardschools, on Facebook at facebook.com/browardschools.com and download the free BCPS mobile app.