- January 30, 2025
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The Volusia County School Board will consider a plan at its meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 12, that "would provide more law enforcement resources for school safety and security," according to a press release by the district.
This plan would create "The Volusia County School District Police Department" by allowing the district to have sworn officers as part of the existing Safety and Security Department. According to a press release, the district doesn't have plans to hire more employees, but rather utilize current employees of the Safety and Security Department who are already certified law enforcement officers, including Director of Safety and Security Michelle Newman.
Newman, who is a 21-year veteran of the Volusia County Sheriff's Office, and about five other school guardians will serve as sworn officers, the press release explains, which also states additional costs will be minimal as funding will continue through the existing safe school grant received from the state for the Coach Aaron Feis Guardian Program.
These sworn law enforcement officers will have direct access to computer-aided dispatch communications to run background checks and license plates to assist in school-based investigations. In addition, they will also have law enforcement authority at scenes of incidents and officers performing well-being checks.
"Many other school districts in Florida have similar hybrid arrangements with their own sworn law enforcement officers who work alongside school guardians and school resource officers and school resource deputies provided in partnership with other law enforcement agencies," the press release states.
