Lead Guardian/School Safety Technician

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 Lead Guardian/School Safety Technician will be responsible to the School Safety Specialist/Designee. 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 & security policies/directives of the Clay County School Board and the Superintendent of Schools. The armed Lead Guardian/School Safety Technician 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 Lead Guardian/School Safety Technician will work collectively with the Director of Support Services, Principal and the School Safety Officer at each school to identify and implement strategies related to ensuring safety on campus while maintaining a peaceful environment, deter crime, and conduct preliminary inquiries into violations of school board policies on school property or at school-sponsored events.

Responsibilities and duties of this position include:

1. As a member of the Office of Safety and Security, the Lead will provide assistance to the School Safety Specialist/Designee, Controlled Access, Video Surveillance, District Police Department and School Guardians.
2. Maintains confidentiality at all times.
3. Conducts routine inspections; provides support; meets with school administrative staff, School Guardians, and other and agency District personnel.
4. Provides additional security and surveillance to multiple school campuses in a single day, which includes patrolling parking lots,  school grounds and other school district owned facilities.
5. Gathers and maintains reports and paperwork to include sensitive and confidential information.
6. Coordinates and assists in Critical Infrastructure Inspections/Threat Assessments.
7. Assists with Florida Safe Schools Assessment Tool (FSSAT) campus walk through district-wide.
8. Assists with scheduling and conducting training for School Guardians.
9. Daily staff roster duties to ensure School Guardian coverage and compliance with Florida State Statutes.
10. Assists with logistics of the District School Guardian Program.
11. Performs other related tasks/duties as assigned.

Responsibilities and duties of this position MAY include:

1. Serves as liaison with outside law enforcement and fire rescue agencies.
2. Provides security to school and district functions, including after school and extra-curricular activities when needed.
3. Investigates, monitors, and reports to administration, and when appropriate, law enforcement, suspicious activity, including but not limited to theft, vandalism, and criminal mischief.
4. Communicates with the School Safety Specialist/Designee, school administrators, guardians, students, and staff regarding safety and security related concerns and issues; works cooperatively with local law enforcement and other district personnel as needed.
5. Communicates school policies and procedures to personnel and visitors for the purpose of ensuring their understanding of the potential consequences of violating the policy.
6. Responds to emergency situations and coordinates appropriate actions in accordance with established guidelines
7. Communicates with district and school-based administration through email communications, telephone, etc.
8. Establishes professional working relationships with local law enforcement agencies as well as local fire rescue staff, and other outside agencies.
9. Assists administration in performing searches of students and school property.
10. Suppresses disturbances and security incidents according to district established policies and guidelines.
11. 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.
12. Assists with the development of threat assessments in coordination with school administration and local law enforcement.
13. Utilizes and monitors surveillance technology to ensure campus safety at multiple schools.
14. Assists with and monitors school safety drills.
15. Serves as security, if emergency shelters are open.
16. 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 the Lead Guardian/School Safety Technician.

Required Qualifications:

1. Must possess a high school diploma (or equivalency).
2. Must be 21 years of age or older.
3. Experience or training in a safety and/or security related field or any equivalent combination of education and experience is preferred.  
4. Read, write, speak, and understand standard English.
5. Must possess and maintain a valid Florida Drivers License for at least three (3) years.
6. Must obtain a State of Florida (s.790.06 Florida Statutes) concealed weapons permit and must maintain the permit throughout employment in this position.
7. Must be able to successfully complete ongoing training and firearm proficiency test as outlined in the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act.  
8. 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.
9. Must obtain and maintain the “Guardian” appointment throughout employment in this position.
10. Must have a safe driving history prior to employment. Safe driving history shall be interpreted as follows: On a record search, no accumulation of points totaling 8 or more in any 12-month period within the three (3) years immediately preceding the record search; and no conviction for DUI within the seven (7) years immediately preceding the record search. A no-contest plea shall be considered the same as a conviction.
11. Must maintain a safe driving record while employed.
12. 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:

1. 80 hours of firearms training.
2. 16 hours of instruction in precision pistol.
3. 8 hours of discretionary shooting instruction using approved simulator exercises.
4. 8 hours of instruction in defensive tactics.
5. 8 hours of instruction in active shooter or assailant scenarios.
6. 12 hours of instruction in legal issues.
7.  Must complete at least 12 hours of a certified nationally recognized diversity training program.
8. De-escalation training
9. Must submit to and pass an initial drug test and subsequent random screenings throughout employment.
10. Must successfully pass a comprehensive employment background check and psychological  evaluation.

Desired Qualifications:

1. Five years of work in law enforcement, safety, security, and/or military field.
2. Three years supervisory experience.
3. Knowledge of Florida School Law.
4. Coursework or training in related field.

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. Requires travel to schools and work sites within the District.