Discussions over the future of school safety in Orange County intensified this week as board members and local municipalities negotiate the presence of school resource officers (SROs) on campuses. WFTV reported that the current one-year contract with law enforcement will secure SROs for the 2024-25 academic year, with contract discussions for Apopka, Ocoee, Winter Garden, Winter Park, and Windermere schools beginning this month.
Meanwhile, ClickOrlando shared that Orange County Public Schools (OCPS) plans to resume talks today with these cities, focusing on deploying SROs to 30 campuses – discussions that remain closed to the public. The urgency of these talks is underscored by the district's proposal for a three-year plan, beginning salary for SROs at $72,000 and incrementally rising to $75,000, amidst concerns from municipalities that the offer is insufficient.
At the heart of the deliberation is the safety of the district's students. The Guardian Program, which could be an alternative if contract agreements fall through, allows for increased security but offers guardians with limited authority. To emphasize the importance of continued SRO presence, school board member Angie Gallo said, "We will have students that are in those five municipalities that will not want to go to those schools because they do not believe that the guardian is the safest option," as cited by ClickOrlando.
Parents have also voiced their anxieties over the potential change in school security measures. "I think they must reach an agreement. There's no doubt. We've got to have protection for our kids," Torrance Rhodes, a parent of two at Ocoee Middle School, told ClickOrlando. "It shouldn’t be a question. It shouldn’t be negotiated. Our children’s safety cannot be negotiated." These sentiments reflect a community's unified concern for their children’s well-being amidst institutional negotiations.
If an agreement isn't reached soon, time constraints will become another challenge. Training through the Guardian Program takes about six months, so a deal would need to be finalized by February.
