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Leon County Schools introduce stricter school security measures

A picture of a Leon County Schools school bus. LCS have additional security personnel and cameras in place. Aug. 12, 2024 (WFSU/Adrian Andrews)
Adrian Andrews
/
WFSU Public Media
A picture of a Leon County Schools school bus. LCS have additional security personnel and cameras in place. Aug. 12, 2024 (WFSU/Adrian Andrews)

The changes come as part of a statewide effort to bolster school safety.

Monday was the first day back in the classroom for Leon County students.

Leon County Superintendent Rocky Hanna told WFSU News that one of his main focuses this year is ensuring school safety.

“It’s the greatest responsibility I have, to keep our children safe and our employees safe each and every day," Hanna said Monday morning after serving breakfast to LCS bus drivers. "It’s a responsibility I take very seriously.”

Leon County schools now have additional security personnel and cameras in place. All students and faculty must adhere to a single point of entry policy, that includes keeping all doors locked during and after-school hours.

Hanna said he recognizes that will make it a little harder for parents coming to cheer their students on in after-school activities.

“We’ll figure our best approach, but it will be a little inconvenient for parents abiding by this new law that requires us to keep everything locked up," said Hanna.

As for scheduled sporting games, the district says it’ll continue using a weapons detection program and enforce a clear bag policy.

The ramped-up protections are the result of a new school safety law that Florida passed earlier this year.

Adrian Andrews is a multimedia journalist with WFSU Public Media. He is a Gadsden County native and a first-generation college graduate from Florida A&M University. Adrian is also a military veteran, ending his career as a Florida Army National Guard Non-Comissioned Officer.

Adrian has experience in print writing, digital content creation, documentary, and film production. He has spent the last four years on the staff of several award-winning publications such as The Famuan, Gadsden County News Corp, and Cumulus Media before joining the WFSU news team.