Orange County Sheriff Candidate Bill Armstrong Released Comments Today Regarding The Controversial Issue of Class Start Time Changes in the Orange County School System.
Sheriff candidate Bill Armstrong stated today that he is opposed to the current change in the school start times and class schedules, citing concern for the safety of students and the impact that it could have on juvenile crime countywide.
“As a career law enforcement officer with over 34 years of experience in Central Florida, I feel compelled
to speak out on this important issue .My concern is that the school board may not have been totally
appraised of the long term ramifications of this plan from a law enforcement perspective. My position is
that the safety of our children should be first and foremost and should not be a matter up for negotiation
even in times of budget cuts and belt tightening. At a time when juvenile crime is on the rise and we are
looking to the school system as a corner stone in the early intervention process for at risk children, we
should be exploring methods of preserving the existing programs and schedules that benefit these
students in various ways.
It concerns me that our children will be out on the streets at bus stops or walking to school during hours of
darkness, exposed to safety threats from traffic and potentially child predators taking advantage of an
opportunity.
For some students, this schedule will prevent their participation in after school organized activities that in
many cases can prevent at risk juveniles from joining gangs or committing crimes.
I predict that Orange County will experience an increase in crimes committed by juveniles due to the lack
of participation in alternative after school programs and by those who are compelled to be left
unsupervised at home or roaming our neighborhoods due to both parents working.
Many parents just can’t afford additional child care or will be unable to alter their employment schedules to
accommodate this change.
Budget cuts always present a major challenge, but I would urge the school board to consider maintaining
the existing schedule and exploring other initiatives to reduce operational costs, that will not create such a
safety issue for our children and potentially impose an additional burden on an already strained juvenile
justice system” Armstrong said.
