Orange County Mayor Teresa Jacobs is proposing a plan to enhance security at elementary schools in the wake of the tragic mass killing of twenty children and six teachers and staff at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, on Friday.
Jacobs, who mapped out the plan in concert with Orange County Sheriff Jerry Demings and School Board Chair, Bill Sublette, is proposing to add a sworn Sheriff’s deputy to serve as a School Resource Office at each of the 60 elementary schools in Orange County.
“There’s nothing more precious than our children,” said Jacobs. “Friday’s massacre of innocent lives is a call to action for all of us to do whatever we can to ensure it never happens here.”
Orange County middle and high schools already have School Resource Officers on campus. The cost of assigning deputies to elementary schools for the remainder of the school year is estimated to be between $2 million – $3 million.
“This action will allow time for Orange County Public Schools, Orange County Government and the State Legislature to evaluate additional security enhancements that may be added at area schools,” added Jacobs.
