LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- The Lee County School district implemented new safety measures at every public school, Monday, more than a month after the Parkland school shooting.
The changes are state-mandated to begin in July of 2018, per the The Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, but the Lee County School District is implementing some of the policies sooner.
As of Monday, The Lee County Sheriff's Office reassigned 40 Supervisors, Lieutenants, Sergeants and Patrol Deputies to schools as School Resource Officers.
In addition, LCSO is also increasing presence at schools by directing detectives to use school facilities as cases for operations whenever possible. Deputies will also be increasing checks at schools during their patrol shifts. Parents at Fort Myers High School were glad to hear the changes. "They're much needed. That's great," said one parent.
Others changes include the following:
- Pending approval Tuesday, a new Director of Safety and Security will join LCSD's administrative staff as of April 2nd.
- By March 31st every Lee County School will have completed Active Shooter training.
- Starting April 1st, Active Shooter and hostage drills will be held monthly at Lee County schools.
- Threat assessments are being performed at all schools.
- The district is working toward a single point of entry at all schools.
- Safety and security protocols are being reviewed, reinforced and upgraded.
- The district is planning the deployment of advanced security technology at all schools.
- Safety procedures are being developed in the event of an active shooter situation on a school bus.
In the future, the following policies are expected:
- With the approval of recent legislation, the state will provide the District with additional funding to place a minimum of one School Resource Officer in each school beginning in the 2018/19 school year.
- With the approval of recent legislation, the state will also provide the District with additional funding to expand mental health services beginning in the 2018/19 school year
- The District will develop a district-wide Security Risk Assessment for all schools by August 2018 and compete for a share of a $98 million statewide allocation to fund, in whole or in part, the costs associated with improving the physical security of school buildings. The state anticipates awarding grant funds to approved school districts in the first quarter of 2019.
