Sheriff Bobby McCallum said he will operate a training school this summer for Levy County School employees who wish to serve as armed Guardians at public schools.

By Terry Witt – Spotlight Senior Reporter

           McCallum said the way it appears an average of about 7 people have volunteered to become Guardians at every county school but he said the numbers are by no means final.

            The deadline for filing an application is May 30.

            State law says the sheriff’s office must train the Guardians.

            Applicants must acquire a concealed firearms license and submit to a background check in addition to being psychologically screened before they can take the 132 hour mandatory course at the sheriff’s office.

            McCallum said his office has acquired a state grant of more than $70,000 that will be used to train the school employees and provide them with weapons and gun holsters.

            But he said as far as he knows, the school board hasn’t made a decision on whether Guardians can carry a weapon in a holster at the school or whether their weapons will remain locked up until they are needed. He said locking the weapons up doesn’t do much good.

            He said the sheriff’s office has received nothing official from the Levy County School District on the number of applicants for the voluntary Guardian program. He said the preliminary numbers could drop before the program starts.

            McCallum said the 132-hour program will likely be expanded to 150 hours because he wants to add more training. He isn’t sure how many school employees will want to give up 150 hours of their summer to take the course.

            Classroom teachers are now eligible to become Guardians along with other school personnel.

            The Levy County School Board last week wouldn’t discuss whether they have any classroom teachers interested in becoming Guardians or whether they have a Guardian program in place.

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Posted May 20, 2019