What training is required for school staff to carry weapons?

PALM BEACH COUNTY, Florida — WPTV is delving into the possibility of some Palm Beach County school employees carrying guns on campuses as Guardians.

On Thursday, Superintendent Mike Burke said the school district is considering Coach Aaron Face Guardian Program takes place in Palm Beach County.

The program was created in the aftermath of the mass shooting at Marjorie Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland in 2018.

WATCH: School district considering allowing individual school employees to carry guns

Palm Beach County School District Considers Allowing Some School Employees To Carry Guns

SPECIAL COATING: Education

For the first time since the program’s launch in 2018, the Palm Beach County School District is considering participating in the Guardian program.

“It’s more than just learning how to shoot a weapon. There is a whole mental side to carrying a weapon, first of all, knowing that you are being charged with the absolute deprivation of human life, ”said Kurt Lavarello, executive director of School Safety Advocacy. Advice.

Lavarello has spent years patrolling school campuses in South Florida and said there are some flaws in Coach Aaron Face Guardian’s program that trains civilians to carry guns on those campuses.

“We don’t give anything in between,” Lavarello said. “We are going from zero to 100 miles per hour. We tell them, “Don’t do anything. You won’t interfere physically, but there is a guy with a gun. Take his life.”

Under the Guardian program, the state requires a minimum of 144 hours of training, including 132 hours of safety and firearms training and 12 hours of diversity training. Participants require an 85% passing score in firearms training and a psychological assessment is also required.

“So you think that this training is not enough?” WPTV education reporter Stephanie Susskind asked Lavarello on Friday.

“No, I don’t know,” Lavarello replied.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office provides 180 hours of training and is currently working with safe school staff on charter school campuses.

“This is not handing out guns to teachers,” Burke told WPTV on Thursday.

During a meeting with the Palm Beach County legislative delegation on Thursday, Burke first floated the idea of ​​participating in the Guardian program.

Burke said the district is considering providing PBSO training to a small group of people as a pilot program.

“Let us take a closer look at the training firsthand and see how it can play a role in our safety levels,” Burke said.

“Which type of employee would be an ideal candidate for the role of Guardian?” Susskind Lavarello asked on Friday.

“I think if you’re going to be considering Guardians and you’re going to do things right, you should look at your ex-law enforcement, your military and make sure they’re well vetted,” Lavarello said.

Lavarello said he would have preferred to have more school counselors on campuses than Guardians, but knowing the difficulty of hiring officers these days, it can be done effectively.

“This can be a viable option as long as we do what is necessary to ensure that only the highest level person is in the position and that training is ongoing and we hire the best of the best,” Lavarello. said.

The ability to have Guardians in Palm Beach County schools is still in its infancy and needs to be submitted to the School Board for review. When this will happen is not reported.

To learn more about studying through the Guardian program, Click here.

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texasstandard.news contributed to this report.

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