Broward School Board approves aerial surveillance coordinator role after discussion of drone use

The School Board of Broward County, Florida on Friday approved a new job description for a Coordinator, Aerial Surveillance Program at a special meeting of the board.

Board members discussed how and how often the district uses drones, whether existing security staff could absorb the work and what qualifications the new hire would need. The board approved the item on a motion moved by Dr. Zeman and seconded by Mrs. Leonardi; the motion passed unanimously.

Board member Mr. Severe asked whether the district currently uses drones in schools and how often. Dr. Lozano, the district's chief safety and security officer, replied: "We do utilize drones at certain events for high level events that we host in the district, certain athletic events. We also use our drone when we need to do traffic assessments. So we use it to assess arrival traffic, dismissal traffic, to look at patterns. So we utilize our drones for specific events to collect data to make decisions." When asked how often the drones are used, Dr. Lozano said: "I'd say multiple times a month, maybe 3 or 4 times a month, we have the drone out."

Board members pressed on whether the proposed coordinator would also monitor overhead camera footage. Dr. Lozano said that monitoring cameras is part of the role: "So this individual already, has access through our vigilant in safety security department. So that's part of this individual's role to monitor our cameras and our surveillance footage." When asked why an existing security employee could not take on the work, Dr. Lozano said: "You need a pilot license to fly a drone and there's certain, restrictions and qualifications to use a drone in the capacity we're using it for is very different than just, like me taking my kid out on the weekend and flying a drone." He confirmed that drone operation is a primary responsibility: "Yes, sir. That's 1 of the key responsibilities of this position."

Dr. Zeman described a recent demonstration of drone technology and asked whether the district has a plan for unmanned aerial surveillance across campuses. He said he had "recently, saw a demo up in Boca for Florida Atlantic University's and Palm Beach County director of safety and security, to see some of the latest and greatest, drone technology" and asked, "do we have a forward looking plan to take advantage of of, unmanned aerial surveillance for the 239 campuses we have in Broward County?" Dr. Lozano said the job description is an iteration of that planning and that the district sees drones playing a larger role in safety technology "as we move forward through '25, '26, and beyond." Dr. Zeman added: "It is a really, really fascinating technology. I think when you all see the videos... I think people would feel safer with their students at schools if they had these advanced drone technologies. And it's something that we ought to think about as 1 more layer of security that can intervene, when required."

The board voted to approve the job description without recorded individual roll-call votes; the chair announced the ayes had it and that item 3 was "approved unanimously."