East Islip school officials said they will be implementing security changes beginning early next year, including the addition of armed security guards on campuses and the installation of new safety hardware.
According to Lynch and the school board, participation in the program would be 100 percent voluntary, and volunteers would be vetted via an extensive process before being approved.
According to board members, the primary function of the position is to prevent unauthorized entry into campus buildings.
As part of the PSU Police’s Student Safety Ambassadors program, student ambassadors patrol the campus grounds, walking through buildings at night. The students also help with late-night safe walks, escorting students back to their residence halls after dark.
“We’re looking for those folks who really want to make a huge impact. Post Parkland we’ve had a surge of people who really want to make a difference,” schools police Chief Edwin Lopez told CBS Miami.
A Washington State school district and police department are partnering up to provide an SRO to the local high school.
According to Broyles, the volunteers went through 60 hours of intensive training with law enforcement. The school district wants CSSOs on and near campuses in case of an emergency.
Officer Jason Trimborn said his job as a school resource officer is to “give them the sense of safety, stability, security that comes with having an officer there to be the first line of defense to anything bad that can happen at the school.”
West Aurora School District hires officer to increase security
The seven employees authorized to carry on campus were trained by the Arkansas State Police. Those who are teachers lock their guns in a safe while they’re in the classroom.