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Elamin, who said he began in November, told the board he found outdated procedures, little organized training and limited access to key monitoring systems.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 classroom lock replacements, intercom upgrades at Outer Creek, Forest Park, Fulbright, Watson, Williams, Dunbar and Pulaski Heights, and updates to access-control systems. He also said the department has increased access to its weapon‑detection system and other monitoring platforms and is now able to review OpenGate recordings to measure system hits and utilization.

Training, audits and culture

The director said he directed the emergency management coordinator to begin interim safety audits at schools and to identify both major and minor security improvements; a full Safe School assessment is due in August 2027. He emphasized a shift away from a punitive or police‑style culture toward accountability, standardized training and community partnerships. Elamin said he is working with human resources and his supervisor to restructure the department.

Staffing, morale and pay concerns

Elamin told the board security officers are paid a starting rate of $16.46 per hour and that neighboring districts have raised their starting rate to $20.27, creating recruitment and retention challenges. He said the department is short‑staffed, has limited overtime options and is attempting to mitigate unnecessary overtime. Several board members and staff noted low morale tied to pay and overtime reductions; Elamin said he is advocating for better wages while controlling wasteful overtime practices.

Local coordination and traffic issues

Board members asked about school traffic control at Southwest High School. Elamin said the district currently uses Little Rock Police Department duty officers for morning and afternoon traffic direction — four officers in the morning and four in the evening at a reported cost that he estimated at about $2,400 per week — and that the district is pursuing a traffic signal and additional traffic mitigation measures. He said engineering and permit costs have risen and that an updated traffic study was under review.

Physical security and weapons detection

Elamin said districts have varying facility configurations; newer schools have vestibules and two‑door entries that older schools lack. He said staff are exploring economical ways to improve entry security at older campuses and that OpenGate weapon‑detection equipment is now producing usable recordings for review. He added that training and access to data are needed to use the technology effectively.

What the board did not decide

The session was informational. No formal votes were taken. Board members pressed for follow-up on pay, staffing levels and timelines for grant-funded upgrades.

Points for follow-up

Elamin asked the board to consider solutions for officer pay and to support department staffing strategy; the district administration said it will return with funding options and a proposed organizational chart for the department.