Broward School Board creates armed guardian jobs

Broward School Board members have created a new position they didn’t want — armed security personnel.

These positions, known as “guardians,” are being added to comply with a new state law in the wake of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas tragedy that says every school must have at least one police officer or someone else with a gun. The district needs to hire at least 80, mostly for elementary schools. Most middle and high schools have police officers already.

Those hired for the job, which pays between $25,000 and $33,000, may not have much to do. School Board members took out part of the proposed job description that allows school administration to assign additional duties to guardians besides just protecting the campus.

“I do not want this person in the cafeteria walking around socializing with a gun,” board member Robin Bartleman said. “The purpose of this law is to protect campus if a bad guy comes with a gun. That’s what they’re doing. They’re not in classrooms, not doing curriculum. They’re protecting the campus.”

The job will require at least two years experience in law enforcement or the military. Some board members worried that was too little experience.

“This person has a weapon. This has the potential to kill someone,” Abby Freedman said.

Others worried that the pool of available candidates was already limited, and the district shouldn’t limit it more.

Some board members also said the guardians’ weapons should be concealed, although Superintendent Robert Runcie said that hasn’t been decided.

“Our first priority is getting people hired. We’ve got to do the appropriate background and psychological tests and make sure they have uniforms,” he said.

stravis@sun-sentinel.com, 561-243-6637 or Twitter @smtravis.