Putnam schools outline multi‑million‑dollar safety upgrades after FSAT review

Putnam County School District staff on Oct. 7 told the school board that the district’s emergency plans, policies and procedures align with state law and best practices but will require substantial investment to implement all recommended safety upgrades.

Travis Weaver, the district staff member presenting results of the Florida Safe Schools assessment tool (FSAT), said the district completed required school‑level assessments and a district evaluation that produced recommendations including target hardening, access control, upgraded communications, improved security camera systems and windows hardening. “As part of the FSAT each school completed assessments which resulted in a wide array of recommendations,” Weaver said.

The FSAT review found that the district’s plans and procedures meet statutory requirements and identified projects that will need district support for planning, implementation, funding, monitoring, maintenance and review. Weaver gave rough fiscal ranges: technology‑focused projects he recommended for prioritization were estimated at $5 million to $8 million per school; other identified efforts would range roughly from $1.5 million to $4.5 million per school. Short‑term, policy or training items were described as generally completable within 30 to 90 days; larger projects would take one to three years.

Board members asked about funding sources and the potential role of state programs tied to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas law. A board member asked, “Is that money coming from the legislature under the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Act?” Weaver said discussion of funding had begun in executive session and suggested follow‑up with staff for specifics. Weaver also noted that some efforts could be grant‑funded.

The board discussed existing law‑enforcement contracts and the possibility of performing a district security cost analysis. Weaver confirmed the district currently pays roughly $1.2 million for the youth resource deputy (YRD) contract with the sheriff’s office and described the district’s rover model: “We have a total of 12. Within that 12, we have West Rover, Central Rover, who also does the gunpowder dog and a south rover and then, rover slash truancy,” he said. Board members said they want staff to study whether the district could provide its own security model in whole or part and whether consolidation of schools would affect staffing needs.

Weaver also said the district has a grant‑funded canine trained to detect gunpowder and that the FSAT recommendations should inform construction of new schools and incorporation of safety features in planned projects.

The board approved the agenda item presenting the FSAT results (L‑1) by unanimous vote. Trustees said they want more detailed cost breakdowns and follow‑up on funding sources before the board commits to specific capital allocations.

The presentation and board discussion were framed as planning and information‑gathering rather than formal policy changes; Weaver and board members emphasized that some recommendations would require additional analysis and external approvals or grant funding.

Provenance: The FSAT presentation and follow‑up questions begin in the transcript at the district presentation, where Weaver summarized the FSAT findings and estimated costs, and conclude after the board’s discussion about law enforcement costs and rover staffing (transcript timecodes approx. 18:00–30:00).