Board debates proposed new security assistant positions and security upgrades; staff promise revised job description and cost options

Howard County's Division of Schools presented a proposal Thursday to expand school safety and security staffing and to pursue additional physical security upgrades.

Presenters said the FY26 proposed budget includes funding increases to add a series of security-assistant roles (a figure of 33 positions was discussed); the district is drafting a new job description to replace the existing security-assistant classification and said the new role will include expanded responsibilities and additional training. "We are in the process of creating a new job description with a new title as well as new responsibilities," the division said.

Board members questioned whether the proposed positions should be retooled to emphasize relationship-building, mentoring and de-escalation rather than enforcement. Several board members and district leaders described the training requirement from the Maryland Center for School Safety, including a 70-hour training expectation, and said the district would layer additional professional learning specific to de-escalation, cultural competency and disability awareness.

Superintendent Barnes and staff also said they are evaluating a range of one-time equipment options (door alarms, upgraded cameras, visitor management systems and other detection devices) and coordinating with county officials to identify funding opportunities. "We can provide the board with a cost sheet for door alarms...we've already secured funds to fill out cameras, upgrade cameras, and make sure we have adequate camera coverage in all of our buildings," the superintendent said. Staff encouraged consideration of county one-time funding as a feasible source for equipment purchases.

Some board members voiced repeated concern about converting grant-funded or other in-house staff to full-time security roles and urged the district to consider redeploying existing non-teaching staff or alternative job classifications (paraeducators, non-teaching ITLs, assistant principals) to achieve multiple functions. District staff and the new director of safety and security, Debbie Toppins, said they're engaging community groups, principals and current security assistants in drafting the new job description and will return with a confidential draft and cost options.

The district said the proposed security assistant role is not a police role and emphasized the priority of hiring staff who can build relationships with students and support school culture while also responding to incidents.