Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law a measure passed by the Florida Legislature that clears the way for classroom teachers to serve as armed school guardians, but Pasco County Schools has no intention of pursuing that option, according to a district news release.
The new law implements legislative recommendations of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission.
Despite the measure’s approval, Superintendent Kurt Browning has made it clear that “there are no plans under consideration to allow any Pasco County Schools employees to carry firearms on school board property, unless they are employed for the specific purpose of protecting the security of students and staff.”
Browning issued that statement before DeSantis signed the new law, but in the statement, Browning noted that he expected the measure to become law.
Browning’s statement also noted that “no school board member has requested that the superintendent pursue allowing teachers or other non-security employees to carry firearms.
“School safety guards and the district’s director of safety and security are the only school board employees authorized to carry firearms on school board property. School resource officers, who are employees of the Pasco Sheriff’s Office or local police agencies, also are authorized to carry firearms on school board property in their official capacity,” according to the news release.
Published May 15, 2019
