St. Landry sheriff presents safety plans for parish schools

St. Landry Parish Sheriff Bobby Guidroz presented a pair of proposed school campus-based crisis management and response plans during a school committee meeting earlier this week.  The plans are scheduled for review by school officials.

Guidroz told the Committee that the projected strategies for providing safety at School District campuses located in unincorporated areas of St. Landry was prepared following a series of safety inspections executed by Sheriff Department school resource officers since schools closed last month.

Policies contained in the two proposals can be modified or enhanced Guidroz added, after school administrators and principals review the contents of the proposals.

Committee members took no action on the plans outlined by Guidroz, who answered their questions during a lengthy presentation.

Guidroz told Superintendent Patrick Jenkins and committee members that state law requires school principals with the assistance of law enforcement, public safety and emergency preparedness officials to annually create campus-wide management and response plans.

Board member Donnie Perron said he feels that all schools currently have crisis manuals available for implementation.

Jenkins said crisis management plans became a necessary part of building level planning two years ago.

Admittedly funding for the series of items listed by Guidroz to provide safety improvements at schools will be costly, he said.

Guidroz noted that he expects some of those anticipated expenses could be offset by more federal revenue which should become available for school safety.

The plans proposed by Guidroz contained no cost estimates.

School board members are still discussing revenues and expenses for the new operating budget scheduled for implementation July 1. At this point a line item listed in the School District budget has $80,000 scheduled for school safety during 2022-23.

In budget discussions that began earlier in June, school board members have considered a recommendation by Jenkins to spend $82,000 next year for four school resource officers provided by the Sheriff’s Department.

Guidroz estimated that it would cost nearly $65,000 yearly for each fulltime resource officer that would be placed on each of the rural campuses.

Specific details in the plans

In one of the plans, Guidroz specifies the use of resource officers for all parish elementary schools.

State law, Guidroz said, requires locking all classroom doors while classes are being held and the installation of metal detection devices at the point of school entry.

Magnetic devices and video cameras positioned at the point of entry to detect firearms would be used as a screening deterrent. In addition Guidroz’s plans suggested placing video cameras at all building entry points.

Guidroz told the Committee that installing cameras in school building hallways is perhaps the best way to remove threats.

Also recommended in the plans is the construction of school fencing and self-securing doors for outside classrooms.

Assistance offered by Guidroz

Guidroz offered to provide training for school staffs at no cost to the District and emphasized that his department has the capability to monitor real time events at campuses, providing the District obtains the necessary cameras.

Board member Mary Ellen Donatto said she feared the emotional impact that it might cause younger students who undergo drills to prevent school and classroom intrusions.

Guidroz said the employee training that will be provided by the sheriff’s department will emphasize teacher reaction and will not be aimed at intimidating students.

What about the private and parochial schools

Guidroz said the Diocese of Lafayette is responsible for administering security at their schools.

Also the private and charter schools located within St. Landry are responsible for funding their own security needs, added Guidroz.

If requested Guidroz said the Sheriff’s Department will provide security training and recommendations for charter, private and Catholic schools free of charge if administrators from those schools request.

This article originally appeared on Opelousas Daily World: St. Landry sheriff presents safety plans for parish schools