Volusia board approves advertising changes to school safety policy after state law update
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Summary
The Volusia County School Board voted to advertise amendments to Policy 5.11 to align district door-and-gate rules with changes in state law (Senate Bill 1470). The revisions narrow lock requirements to the campus perimeter and add exemptions for certain career and technical education spaces and common-area instructional use.
The Volusia County School Board on Tuesday authorized staff to advertise proposed amendments to School Board Policy 5.11, Safety Facilities, revising door and gate requirements to reflect changes in state law.
The changes follow Gov. Ron DeSantis’s signing of Senate Bill 1470 on May 1, 2025, and were presented by Captain Todd Smith, director for safety and security, who said the revisions ensure the district’s rules match the new statute "so that on day 1 of the next school year, our policies reflect the new law." The board voted unanimously to authorize advertising the amendments.
Why it matters: the amendments alter how buildings are secured during the school day and could change visitor flow and operations at campuses across Volusia County. Captain Smith told the board the revised language applies door-and-gate rules from 30 minutes before school to 30 minutes after school and removes the blanket requirement to keep interior ingress/egress doors and gates shut and locked inside a school’s exclusive campus zone.
Under the district proposal, interior doors inside the secured perimeter will not be required to remain locked where they sit inside that exclusive zone — for example, double exterior doors that lead into a secure vestibule. The change also provides exemptions for career and technical education (CTE) spaces and for common areas being used for instruction, and it adds a training requirement for substitute staff on safety protocols.
Board members asked for implementation details to be worked out before the start of the school year, including how district staff will review specific campus configurations so principals and facilities staff know which doors will remain secured and which will be open for daily student movement. Superintendent Carmen Balgobin and Captain Smith said staff will review campus layouts and prepare guidance and training to ensure compliance when school reopens.
The motion to authorize advertising was made by Donna Brosmer and seconded by Krista Goodrich; the board approved the request unanimously.
What’s next: advertising the proposed policy changes begins the formal public-comment process required by the board. The district will return with any public feedback and final language for adoption after the required notice period.
