The Orange County School Board is slated to deliberate on a contentious proposal to replace school resource officers (SROs) with school guardians on 30 campuses. As per WFTV, this discussion is expected to be initiated today at their headquarters on West Amelia Street. Although a polarizing alternative to SROs, Guardians are considered a cost-cutting strategy for districts under financial constraints.
Amidst rising costs, SRO salaries have more than doubled since 2015, and the district is facing an $18 million expense. Officials are grappling with budgetary pressures. According to Orange County Public Schools board member Angie Gallo, per ClickOrlando, discussing a guardian's role is notably different from that of an SRO. This limitation in authority is a point of concern for some board members who prefer the presence of police officers in schools.
While the inherent benefit of the guardian system is its cost, it brings limitations in authority that oppose the comprehensive capabilities of SROs, who can make arrests. Gallo has been a vocal advocate for SROs and expresses a clear preference for their ability to enforce the law within the school's halls. In a comment mentioned by ClickOrlando, she stated that an ideal learning environment "is one in which a school resource officer is on our campus."
The affected schools are Apopka, Winter Park, Ocoee, Winter Garden, and Windermere. The district is caught in a challenging position after disagreeing with city police departments on the cost-sharing of SROs, wherein the district had proposed a rate of $72,000—a 20% increase from the previous contract. As reported by ClickOrlando, several cities are seeking fair compensation while hoping for an agreement. Looking ahead, discussions for a new contract with these cities are set for January, as the guardian program's roll-out requires about six months to implement, making timely negotiations essential.
As this situation unfolds, the Orange County School Board's work session, beginning at 1 p.m. today, will be an essential forum for debate on the balance between financial pragmatism and the desired standard for school safety and law enforcement presence.
