_ ICS@ gt SSE Ps (77) 3886900 wie ‘Chaitpeeon Rene Foners April 2019 olan cary eR. Dear Pinellas County Schools Families, The safety and security of Pinellas County Schools students, families and staffis paramount and always at the forefront of decisions made by district leadership and the School Board. The Florida Legislature recently passed Senate Bill 7030, which removes the prohibition against classroom teachers serving as armed school guardians. In spring 2018, the Pinellas County Schoo! Board acted to allow only sworn law enforcement officers and highly trained school safety officers (SSQs, also known as guardians) to be armed on campus. The action taken in spring 2018 by the Pinellas County School Board remains the position of Pinellas County Schools. Working collaboratively with the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office to ensure compliance with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Public Safety Act, SSOs were recruited, hired and assigned to all elementary schools throughout the 2018-19 school year. Each of them went through an extensive and high-quality training conducted by the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office The presence of a sworn law enforcement officer at Pinellas middle and high schools has been in place for many years through the support of local law enforcement agencies across Pinellas County. The district continues to support an armed presence for safety and security at every school campus and are confident that this is accomplished through a collaboration with seven law enforcement agencies, Pinellas County Schools Police and the SSO program, Pinellas teachers, school leaders and school-based staff work tirelessly every day to deliver quality instruction and provide support and guidance for every child in Pinellas County Schools, Law enforcement officers and school safety officers allow our teachers and other employees to focus on their primary role, educating our students ‘The School Board and district leadership continue to keep abreast of best-practice and work with law enforcement, school and community leaders to ensure the safety and security of our schools, Sincerely, ae Michal Lsdpayr ia! loa. Michael A. Grego, Ed.D. and ne Flowers Superintendent School Board Chair