'If something happens ... we're coming for you': Community decries Brevard guardian program
A guardian program that will arm some Brevard schools staff members drew heat at a Tuesday school board meeting, with 12 people speaking out against it and one thrown out of the room for making comments perceived as threatening toward Board Chair Megan Wright.
Two weeks ago, the board approved a memorandum of understanding with the Brevard County Sheriff's Office that allows staff and administrators not assigned to a classroom to receive training to become a guardian, meaning they will be allowed to carry a firearm on district property. The board has indicated at past meetings that these individuals will be anonymous. Brevard Public Schools did not respond to FLORIDA TODAY's inquiry regarding how many employees had signed up to volunteer as of Tuesday.
The MOU was approved the day after a Palm Beach County school district employee shot themself while participating in the certification process to become a guardian, according to the district and sheriff's office. They suffered non-life threatening injuries.
Brevard is one of 53 counties in the state participating in the program, according to the state department of education. The program was established in 2018 through the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act following the Parkland shooting, which killed 17 people and left 17 others wounded. Public and private schools can participate, and it was expanded in 2019 to include Class D and G licensed security guards and certain district and charter school employees.
These factors, as well as the implications of more guns in schools, were a topic of passionate concern at this week's meeting, with no one speaking in the program's favor.
Despite the public outcry, the board did not discuss the program.
But partway through the public comment portion of the meeting, mom Amy Roub questioned Board Chair Megan Wright on her decision to "bring guns into the classroom." While the board voted 4-1 for the guardian program, with Jennifer Jenkins opposing, Wright was the one to propose it in October 2023.
"Hey Megan, if something happens to a child because of your gun-crazy, going-with-your-gut-instead-of-data decision, we're coming for you," Roub said.
"Is that a threat, Ms. Roub?" Wright responded.
Roub did not answer the question, but told Wright she would have "blood on (her) hands."
After a short back-and-forth, Wright had her removed from the meeting.
Staff members who volunteered for the program are set to begin training in July.
MOU approved: Brevard school board gives OK to trained staff carrying guns after promising no vote this week
Shared concerns
Other speakers shared their personal experiences with gun violence, statistics about shootings and more.
Cassidy Nicholas, a teacher and school shooting survivor, grew up in Brevard schools. Being a teacher is her dream job, but she said she is "disgusted" by the district's latest move.
"If I have anything to do with it, my kids will never step foot in a BPS school," she said.
For much of the three minutes allotted her, Nicholas spoke about statistics related to how often students end up hurt by guns rather than helped.
"I can't even list all of the incidents where SROs and security guards and teachers accidentally shot teachers, staff and other school members," she said.
Another speaker, Rebecca McAleenan, questioned if schools are still considered gun-free zones and how students, staff and parents should behave if they do not know who is a guardian and who is not.
"What happens if they (someone) sees the outline of this weapon or a holster that's going to be provided to (guardians) for this weapon?" she said. "Does that parent or volunteer or student -- do they confront the person with the gun? Do they call the police?"
Abby Sanders, a student, said some volunteers have already been bragging about being one.
"You don't think a week into the school year, we all won't know who these secret guardians are?" she said. "Cops have been attacked and killed with their own guns, and you don't think a person not fully trained in law enforcement is 100% able to make that not happen?"
Others speakers spoke of alternatives to arming staff members.
Discipline: Brevard Schools discipline data: Overall rates this year up from last, suspensions down
Bernard Bryan, education chair of South Brevard NAACP, brought up the possibility of more mental health resources for students, or using dogs to sniff out firearms. He encouraged the board to consider more factors and data when making their decisions.
"We just really want you to take a look at using data, analyze it ... and attack it from a root-case perspective," he said.
Nicholas criticized the board for not opting for these less extreme alternatives.
"Instead of investing in actual security measures, such as metal detectors, you're putting students, teachers and staff at risk," she said.
Finch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at [email protected]. X: @_finchwalker.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Speakers tell Brevard school board of concerns over armed 'guardians'
