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Pasco Co. school security guards receive intense training to meet state mandate

Many of the trainees, who have past law enforcement experience, call the program top-notch.
Credit: 10News Staff
The Pasco County school district is sending its security guard candidates through hours of training.

LAND O' LAKES, Fla. -- Pasco County School District officials allowed journalists to watch some of the training its school security guards are receiving from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office at Rushe Middle School.

Dozens are currently being trained to protect the district’s elementary schools when classes start in August.

The county hopes to save money while still meeting the state’s new mandate to provide security at every school following the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School in Parkland.

When their training is over, the safety guards will not be full-fledged deputies with arresting powers. Instead, they will be school district employees, which officials said is a more affordable option.

“Right now, we feel very confident with the quality of applicants that we’ve got and the training that they are receiving,” said school board member Cynthia Armstrong.

Many of the trainees say they consider the job an extension of their previous law enforcement work.

“This was kind of a no-brainer,” said Chuck Balderstone, who retired after 28 years with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office. “This was protecting our kids, a chance to get back and work with the community and be close to home and do something constructive.”

By hiring guards rather than deputies for the district’s 47 elementary schools, officials estimate they'll save about $600,000 a year.

Pasco middle and high schools will still be patrolled by school resource officers from the sheriff’s office, New Port Richey or Dade City police.

The training, say applicants, has been top-notch.

“I can honestly say that the group that’s training us right now through the firearms and the defensive tactics and taser hands-down is the best group that I’ve ever had in all of my years,” said Balderstone.

The 134 hours of training includes everything from school orientation to active shooter drills. The applicants undergo background checks and psychological screening.

“We are also giving them training of what it’s like to work with elementary school students,” said Armstrong. “Because you want the students to feel safe when they see this uniform guards and to look up to them as role models.

The district received about 125 applications. They plan to hire 53.

Ultimately it is about saving money, but they hope parents don’t equate less expensive with any less dedication.

When asked what she’s willing to sacrifice to protect our children, Danielle Peterson, who spent years as a police officer in a Chicago suburb, didn’t hesitate.

“My life,” she said. “Absolutely.”

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