Hernando County School Board members announced the rollout of a voluntary chaplain program for the district, saying the program will be available to parents as an optional layer of support for students.

Board members said the chaplain list is available at schools and that chaplains will be vetted, fingerprinted and credentialed. A board member said the program is “completely voluntary. It is a list that's at the schools, and it is there for any parent who would just like an added layer of support.”

The board framed the program as a mental‑health support option rather than a replacement for counseling or other services. Board members said the program has been developed with statutes, policies and procedures in place; they described Hernando County as the first Florida county to implement the program districtwide.

Board members emphasized that use of the service is optional: parents choose whether to use a chaplain and schools will only make the service available to families who request it. The board said chaplains will be fingerprinted and vetted before appearing on school lists.

No formal vote or specific funding figures for the chaplain program were announced during the meeting. Board members said implementation will continue and that policy and procedure documentation exists to govern the program.