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School board approves use of hardening-grant funds for six safety priorities identified in FSAT
Summary
The board voted to allow use of an anticipated DOE hardening grant to address six campus safety priorities identified in the Florida School Safety Assessment tool; the grant amount is not yet known and some purchases (for example, cameras) must be contracted out.
The school board voted to approve using anticipated hardening-grant funds to address six campus safety priorities identified in the Florida School Safety Assessment (FSAT) tool, board member Mister Gore said. The district has not yet received the grant award amount from the Department of Education (DOE), he added.
The decision followed a presentation by Mister Gore, who described the FSAT and the safety measures the district is considering. “It’s your, RF SAT or, Florida School Safety Assessment tool,” he said, and noted the district used summer safety tours with local emergency responders to refine the list of priorities.
The items the board prioritized include a mapped “wave” or silent-response system that notifies law enforcement with an exact campus location, a key-card entry system that time-stamps who enters and can lock or unlock doors digitally, and other security hardening steps. Gore said the district expects some purchases to be contracted rather than bought directly; for example, cameras cannot be purchased and self-installed with the hardening-grant funds and must be contracted out.
Gore also referenced state legislative changes while describing the assessment: “...about senate bill 70 26 and 70 30,” and said the FSAT’s back page lists positive safety measures the district has already implemented with hardening and other funds.
Board members asked clarification questions about multi-building campuses and the technical details of the wave system. Gore cautioned against discussing sensitive operational details in public but encouraged board members to follow up with district staff. He invited one-on-one follow up with Mister Ward for specifics.
The motion to approve use of the hardening-grant funds on the prioritized FSAT items passed with the board’s voice vote. Board members and staff noted the final scope of work will depend on the eventual DOE award amount and on procurement requirements.
Background: The FSAT is a district-administered safety assessment that incorporates input from local law enforcement, fire and EMS responders. The district said it conducted safety tours over the summer to invite response agencies to walk campuses and recommend safety and response improvements. The DOE hardening grant was identified as the expected funding source; the district said it has not yet received the DOE award and therefore cannot confirm exactly which of the six items will be funded.
What’s next: District staff will return with implementation details after the DOE grant award is known and after clarifying contracting requirements for specific purchases.
