School District brings elementary security issue back to the table

The security of the school system's youngest students will be brought back to the forefront after tabled discussions at the Manatee County School District's Aug. 26 meeting.

At its meeting at 5:45 p.m. Sept. 9, the School Board will discuss and potentially vote on whether to extend a $1 million contract per year for three years, to a security firm that will arm local elementary schools with retired military veterans and law enforcement officials.

Currently, only middle and high schools have school resource officers on campus.

The district's 2014-2015 budget allots dollars to adding security to schools' "most vulnerable age group" — k-5 students, board member Dave Miner said. But, board members, such as Miner, have been unsure on the details of such an agreement and wanted more time for public comment and board review before adding the position to schools.

The School Board will hold a workshop from 3 to 5 p.m., prior to its regularly scheduled meeting tonight, to hash out the security issue. The district expects to vote on the topic at the meeting, after the in-depth workshop discussion.

To view the district's agenda, visit www.manateeschools.net/pages/SDMC.

Contact Amanda Sebastiano at [email protected].