New safety director outlines training, grant and technology upgrades; flags officer pay and staffing shortages

Newly hired Safety & Security Director Elamin told the Little Rock School District board on March 13 that his department has prioritized training, rewritten its procedure manual, improved access to safety systems and secured a 2025 school safety grant of approximately $1,196,735 to modernize locks, intercoms and access control at multiple schools.

Elamin, who said he began in November, told the board he found outdated procedures, little organized training and limited access to key monitoring systems. He described steps already taken: a nearly completed de‑escalation training rollout (95% of officers trained), a redesigned departmental procedure manual, mid‑year in‑service training for officers, and completion of Arkansas Safe School Commission-recommended training for school safety coordinators.

Grant and technology work

Elamin said the district’s 2025 school safety grant — cited in the presentation as $1,196,735 — will pay for…