School Guardian

Job Description:

Guardians are armed personnel who aid in the prevention or abatement of active assailant incidents on school premises. They are school district personnel, hired for the specific purpose of serving as a School Guardian. The School Guardian will be responsible to the School Safety Specialist/Designee. This position exists to perform highly responsible administrative work as identified through F.S This position is tasked to ensure that all mandated requirements by the Office of Safe Schools within the Department of Education are implemented and followed as defined as well as all safety and security policies/directives of the Clay County School Board and the Superintendent of Schools. The armed School Guardian position shall have no law enforcement authority, except to the extent necessary to prevent or actively respond to an active assailant incident on Clay County District Schools' properties. The School Guardian will work collectively with the Principal at each school to identify and implement strategies related to ensuring safety on campus while maintaining a peaceful environment and deter crime. The School Guardian will have the responsibility for performing a variety of duties related to protecting students, school staff, visitors, equipment, facilities, and school grounds at the request of the site administrator and under the supervision and direction of the School Safety Specialist/Designee.

Responsibilities and duties of this position include:

• Maintains confidentiality at all times.
• Provides security and surveillance to the school campus, including patrolling parking lots and school grounds.
• Provides security to school and district functions, including after school and extracurricular activities as needed.
• Investigates, monitors, and reports to administration, and when appropriate, law enforcement, suspicious activity, including but not limited to theft, vandalism, and criminal mischief.
• Communicates with the School Safety Specialist/Designee, school administrators, students, and staff, regarding safety and security related concerns and issues; works cooperatively with local law enforcement, other agencies and other district personnel as needed.
• Communicates District and/or State policies and procedures to personnel and visitors for the purpose of ensuring their understanding of the potential consequences of violating the policy.
• Responds to emergency situations and takes appropriate actions in accordance with established guidelines and State Laws .
• Monitors students, staff, visitors, vendors, etc. within a variety of school environments (e.g. grounds, hallways, media center, cafeteria, parking lots, etc.) for the purpose of ensuring the safety and welfare of all persons on school district grounds.
• Continuous heightened awareness of his or her surroundings.
• Reads and responds to email communications from district and school-based administration.
• Builds relationships with the county's and/or local municipalities law enforcement agency, fire rescue, students and stakeholders.
• Assists in suppressing disturbances and security incidents according to district established policies and guidelines.
• Deescalates confrontations between students, parents, visitors, and community members while on campus. Works to assist school administration in order to address and investigate all incidents.
• Assists District personnel, school administration and law enforcement with annual and on-going school campus threat assessments.
• Utilizes and monitors surveillance technology to ensure campus safety.
• Serves on the school safety committee.
• Assists with and monitors school safety drills.
• May be assigned to provide security if emergency shelters are open.
• Observation and supervision of parent pick up and drop off traffic areas may be needed at times but at no times will traffic control and or directing traffic be permitted by a School Guardian.
• Performs other related tasks/duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Must possess a high school diploma (or equivalency).
• Must be 21 years of age or older.
• Experience or training in a safety or security related field or any equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred.
• Read, write, speak, and understand standard English.
• Must obtain a State of Florida (s Florida Statutes) concealed weapons permit and must maintain the permit throughout employment in this position.
• Must be able to successfully complete ongoing training and firearm proficiency test as outlined in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.
• Must meet all Clay County Sheriff's Office requirements to attain a "Guardian" appointment pursuant to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act. Must obtain and maintain the "Guardian" appointment throughout employment in this position.

• Must successfully complete a 144 hour comprehensive firearms safety proficiency training during a Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission certified course conducted by the Clay County Sheriff's Office as outlined below:

• 80 hours of firearms training.

• 16 hours of instruction in precision pistol.
• 8 hours of discretionary shooting instruction using approved simulator exercises.
• 8 hours of instruction in defensive tactics.
• 8 hours of instruction in active shooter or assailant scenarios.
• 12 hours of instruction in legal issues.
• Must complete at least 12 hours of a certified nationally recognized diversity training program.
• De-escalation training
• Must submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent random screenings throughout employment.
• Must successfully pass a comprehensive employment background check, and psychological evaluation.
• A valid Florida Driver's license is required prior to appointment and must be maintained during employment in this position.

Desired Qualifications:

• Three years of work in law enforcement, safety, security, and/or military field.
• Coursework or training in related field.
• Awareness of tenets and trauma informed care and mental health resources.

Work Context:

Requires sitting, standing, walking, use of stairs, and running. Requires the use of alternative communication systems, such as electronic mail, telephones, radios and computers. Requires coordination of work tasks to establish priorities, set goals and meet deadlines. Requires face-to-face discussions and contact with individuals and/or teams. Requires work with both internal and external contacts and with other agencies. Must interact professionally with all law enforcement/fire rescue with the ability to calmly assess solutions and or implement processes during critical events.

Physical Environment:

Requires working indoors and outdoors in various weather-related conditions. Requires sitting, standing, running, walking and moving about during the day and the ability to lift, carry, move and/or position objects infrequently weighing up to 50 pounds. May requires travel to schools other than assigned and/or other work sites within the District.