Virginia School District Adds Armed Guards

Virginia School District Adds Armed Guards

A school district in Virginia has approved and implemented armed guards on its campuses.

  • By Sydny Shepard
  • October 22, 2018

A Virginia school district will now have armed security officers after the school board voted unanimously voted to authorize and hired 12 new security officers to carry firearms. 

Fauquier County Public Schools and county officials agreed earlier this year to add the positions after the Parkland Shooting in February. 

We are doing more because we recognize there is truly a need," Duke Bland said. "Through the hard work and dedication of everyone here... we are making it safer for our teachers, staff and students."

Since May, the local sheriff's department has helped to fill seven of the 12 new security officer positions. Five of the newly hired officers already work in elementary and high schools, with two mew starting on Nov. 1. 

"Our hopes are that we will have the remaining five filled by the end of the year, if not, then the beginning of next year," Human Resources Director Janelle Downes said.

A committee of two school administrators and two sheriff's office employees have interviewed security officer candidates, all of whom has law enforcement experience. 

“I’m proud of the fact that we are not trying to hurry through this,” Superintendent David Jeck said. “Our approach is to get quality folks, with a law enforcement background, with spotless records. We are certainly happy to take our time and get to that place rather than trying to hire people quickly.”

The total annual cost of the 12 new armed officers is estimated to be around $1.2 million, including $265,834 in startup costs. A state grant will help fund the positions.

About the Author

Sydny Shepard is the Executive Editor of Campus Security & Life Safety.

Featured

  • Making Safety and Security Intrinsic to School Design

    Public anxieties about school safety are escalating across the country. According to a 2023 Gallup report, 44% of parents fear for their child’s physical safety at school, a 10 percentage-point increase since 2019. Unfortunately, these fears are likely to increase if the incidence of school tragedies continues to mount. As a result, school leaders are now charged with two non-negotiable responsibilities. The first, as always, is to ensure kids have what they need to learn, grow, and thrive. Sadly, their second responsibility is to keep the children in their care safe from threats and physical danger. Read Now

  • Unlocking Peace of Mind

    In a perfect world, every school would have an unlimited budget to help secure their schools. In reality, schools must prioritize what budget they have while navigating the complexities surrounding school security and lockdown Read Now

  • Emerging Campus Access Control Solutions

    Emerging solutions in campus access control can mean different things. Usually, we expect the topic to focus on the very latest in door security products and solutions that have just been recently released or are about to be launched. After all, staying up on improvements to keep campuses safer is critical. Plus, it’s always interesting and exciting to learn what’s new and how innovations are going to better protect lives and assets and help the industry be even more successful. Read Now

  • Here’s How Instructional Audio Can Play a Key Role in School Safety

    Ensuring the safety of students and employees is critical in today’s educational environment. While the threat of a school shooting is in the back of everyone’s mind, the truth is there are many possible scenarios that could crop up at any time in classrooms, hallways, and other school spaces—from fights or altercations to a sick child or staff member who requires emergency attention. Read Now

Most   Popular

Webinars