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Subscribe to RSSA concerned northeast Florida mother is not letting a hefty price tag prevent her from bringing some extra security to her child's elementary school.
The Flagler County woman is footing the nearly $12,000 bill for two months of having an armed deputy at the school amid rising concerns over safety after the Dec. 14 Newtown, Conn., massacre -- a measure the district had discussed, but hadn't gotten budget approval to do yet.
"The principal told her that we were working on a plan, but she said she wanted to go ahead, and she would be willing to take that on herself," Janet Valentine, superintendent of Flagler County School District, told NBC News. "We researched it, found out how much it would cost, let her know that we would want her to pay the district upfront for that, and we would contract with the sheriff's department, which is what we're doing."
The mother, who The Daytona Beach News-Journal identified as Laura Lauria of Flagler Beach, agreed, and handed school officials a check for just under $12,000. That money will pay for two months' security staffing at her daughter's school -- Old Kings Elementary -- at a cost of $32 an hour.
Lauria also made a verbal commitment to pay for the deputy through the remainder of the year after the two months are over, the News-Journal reported.
Flagler County School District has had armed deputies in all its middle and high schools for years, and used to have them in its five elementary schools, too. But finances forced the district to cut the deputies out of the elementary schools back in 2005, Valentine said.
Watch video, read more on this story from NBCLatino.com
Recently, the district has been revamping its emergency crisis and management plans, and is expected to present a new proposal for its 13,000 students to the school board in February, the News-Journal reported. Finding money in the budget to bring armed deputies back to the elementary schools was one of the items that was going to be discussed next month, but Lauria didn't want to wait until then.
"I was surprised, but ... accepted it as a very generous offer," Valentine said. "We do look to our community all the time for helping to solve problems here, and it's just amazing to me what the power of one can do to step forward and do something like that."
Flagler County School District has ten schools in total. The Flagler Palm Coast High School has two deputies; all other high schools and middle schools have one deputy. The school district pays for four deputies at a cost of $286,572, the city of Palm Coast pays for one, and the Flagler County Sheriff's Office also pays for one, reported the News-Journal.
Flagler County Sheriff Jim Manfre said he felt Lauria's generosity was "commendable," but not a long-term fix.
"It’s truly the spirit of generosity when a parent sees a concern not only for her child, but for all children in that school, and agrees to pay for security. But it also challenges our sheriff’s office and our school district to come up with a long-term solution," he told NBC. "So that’s what we’re now working on: trying to get school resource officers in all the elementary schools, hopefully in this school year, and then in the future as well.”
He’s not sure how much the sheriff’s office can contribute this year, though.
“We’re in the middle of a budget year,” he said. “We’re in a county that has one of the highest unemployment rates in the state, so the funding is tight for all levels of government. What we’re hoping for is for the federal government and the state government to step up and perhaps provide us with funding in this year for school resource officers."
Lauria has not returned calls from the media about her decision to pay for school security. Other parents told Florida's CFNews13.com they wanted to follow in her footsteps.
"I think that all parents should get together for the safety of their children, put money together somehow to provide security, if our city can't afford it," Christina Miller told the station.
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Reactionary Fool.
With all of the Gun nuts running around Florida, I think she has a good idea.
32 bucks an hour is a pretty good salary for a security guard!
Lucky to get a job like that even with a good degree nowadays.
Who vetted this deputy? Was he given a mental health screening? The lady with an extra $12,000 she doesn't know what to do with just put an armed man in her child's school and that makes her feel better about her child's safety, but it might alarm other parents. What gives her the right to decide for them that this is a good idea?
Meanwhile in Boulder City, NV today a police lieutenant with a distinguished career and no history of family problems just murdered his wife and 7 year old son before taking his own life.
With the money this lady can afford to pay out...she is better off sending her children to a private school (they already have their own security). Since she's that worried.
this is not a security guard ! this is a sheriff deputy on duty, this is a stupid headline " armed deputy"
of course he is armed he is a POLICE OFFICER ..
Yep another Adult that is panicking.....
This is a lousy precedent to set. The message here being, "you want your kids safe? You gotta pay!"
This is why we have public safety departments; corruption comes from money changing hands.
I never knew you can hire a public worker who's on duty like a sheriff deputy. I know off duty you can, plenty of stores do it all the time. Guess this deputy position for that day school is rotated with off duty personnel.
Probably unnecessary but it if makes her sleep better at night then more power to her. I'm sure the parents of the other children at the school aren't complaing so you all shouldn't either.
Well, this is Florida, where the sun bakes on your head all day.
Some people just have more money than brains, it seems.
At least the school board hasn't decided to force another tax on everyone to pay for what will most likely be a waste of money.
Although, in Florida, where you can get your hands on a gun if you are breathing, and carry it with you, and shoot anyone for looking at you wrong (STAND YOUR GROUND!!!) it does not surprise me that a parent would be afraid some nut case is running around with a gun.
What about the parents of other schools in same school district who don't have armed guards and can't afford to pay for one? Public schools..so security should be given by public paid security persons ( law enforcement officers) for free! Just hire more officers and raise the taxes. Doubt parents will complain about the reason for the taxes going up.
dirp
They don't need Official issued Permits in Florida?
Yeah, the Gangsta Disciples and other gangs are worried about Permits.
Especially when you can go to any gun show in Georgia and pick up a gun with no background checks.
What was the line from the movie "Badges, badges, we don't need no stinkin' badges."
The reality is, with guns available for the asking, anywhere in the country, you can get them for the taking.
The background check requirement is a federal law. The states do not have to enforce it. Dealers do not even have to keep an inventory of what they purchase. Lack of enforcement of gun laws is a joke.
And the gun manufacturers are laughing all the way to the bank.
Just one of those people who had four tax cuts to enrich her bank account. Nice of her to do it for all the school and not just her daughter
If police officers really do love the community and desire to protect and service the innocent, one would think there would be enough law enforcement officers volunteering to do "school protection" duty on their off-time to cover the average school week... but that would actually require a large number of officers that actually care about protecting the innocent more than busting speeders and ticketing jaywalkers.
Uh dirp,
All firearm dealers have to be federally licensed, the only exemption is from private individuals (hence the "gunshow" loophole). Dealers don't get the choice of running a background check or not. If you think dealers don't keep an inventory of every single gun they sell (at least the legitimate ones), I have some really fine land down here in the Everglades that I think you will really like (during the dry season!). Like my Dad used to say "Try not to let your mouth overload your ass"!
@Kevin
Reactionary fool????? Do you mean she and the president rush to knee jerk reactions?
32 bucks an hour was probably s.s., unemployment, State and Federal taxes included, incomplete story again.
Tell that to Michelle Obama. Her kids go to Sidwell Friends School, which employs 11 armed security guards.
https://www.sidwell.edu/directories/index.aspx?FirstName=&LastName=&DepartmentTypeID=78&DivisionID=&sortBy=LastName&LinkID=&DirectoryModuleID=341&pageaction=VPFaculty
But Connecticut is safe?..PUHHLLEEEZE
Don Giacomo
With all of the Gun nuts running around
FloridaConnecticut, I think she has a good idea.Fixed it forya.
LOL, this is funny. All she has to do for money like that is put her child in one of those upper-crust schools that charge large tuitions, and provide security....
Care to explain that Jay?
John-2032532
You forgot to add, a private school. Most private schools for the tuition paid, supply's armed security, this is really nothing new, just as protection by the Secret Service for Presidential daughters is nothing new, why do you people keep posting like President Obama's daughters are the first ever to have Secret Service Protection, or to attend private schools that provide their own security.
I forgot to add, this woman paid $12k for two months, hell, she could put her child in Sidwell for $35k a year.
https://www.sidwell.edu/directories/index.aspx?FirstName=&LastName=&DepartmentTypeID=78&DivisionID=&sortBy=LastName&LinkID=&DirectoryModuleID=341&pageaction=VPFaculty
Schools that cost this much per child can easily provide security that was there way before Newtown, or any other school shooting you can think of. For the less enlightened, Sidwell always has provided armed guards, just as Secret Service has ALWAYS provided SS Protection for ALL Presidential children, not just President Obama.
Next thing you know they will be looking to the PTA to run bake sales to pay for the security at the school. I guess I take issue with this being done in this manner. Because one woman worried about her child, one school is getting the added security. This does nothing for the other four schools that do not have a generous parent willing to foot the bill. I do not think that the security of these kids should come down to the generosity of parents. I think it was inappropriate for the school district to accept this arrangement that provides unequal protection to the schools in the district. They should have politely declined this woman's offer and come up with a solution that protects all the schools equally. If the woman wanted to make a donation to the district as a whole, that would be one thing, but this sets a very bad precedent. This could result in unequal facilities, staffing, etc. in the different schools in the district based on what individual parents or groups of parents decided they were willing to fund only at their child's school. If they are going to accept this private money for a specific purpose at a specific school, what is stop some other parent from deciding they wanted to pay for something else at their child's school. This sets a precedent that could take control over what goes on at different schools away from the district and put it in the hands of parents. What is some parent decides they are going to donate money to pay for better food at their child's school. Will the district accept this donation as well. Who is going to decide what parents can decide to add to their child's school. I know that many will take issue with what I am saying, but think about the precedent here and what it could mean.
For $12,000 she could have put her son in a really good private school that provides the security needed. This is idiotic on her part. Besides, if some gun nut shows up armed with assault rifles and semi automatic weapons with 100 round clips, how much good do you think a single armed security guard is going to be? If your plan for dealing with school shooters begins at the front door to the school, then you are too late.
1 less Assistant Principle per school = 1 Armed Sheriff's Deputy
--OR--
In Florida :
"The average teacher salary in Florida for the year 2009 was $50,180.
That's $12 BILLION DOLLARS Folks....Salary + Benefits
How bout the teachers kick in another 1-2% towards their own retirement funds...The State / School Districts could then use those savings for Security....after all, the teachers would be getting the protection too.....
In Flagler County where this is taking place there are (in 2009), there are 983 Full Time Teachers, the average class ratio is 13:1...
I think it's hillarious that the liberal media (yes NBC included) have shut their yaps about NRA CEO LaPierre calling for armed guards in schools since we read every day of school districts doing that very thing. Talk about catering to opportunity when catering was cool. Not so cool now.
Thank you, my good woman...
A fool and her money are soon parted...
This is EXACTLY what conservative Republicans were complaining about with Obama, though--can't anyone see that? Or are we genuinely that blind in this country?!?
The NRA attacked the President on a straw-man issue in their latest ad.. by the way, of COURSE the POTUS' kids are protected--it's been that way by order of Congress since 1901, you morons, LONG before Obama was even born, and absolutely nobody whined about it before!
But the NRA was transmitting their message across the country and crying "elitist" in the ad, and how only the rich and powerful would be able to protect their children with armed security... and yet that's EXACTLY what's going on in this country now!
Those with the money (be it the parents, community or school district) will be able to provide armed guards for their schools. Those without the money? They will not.
THAT IS ELITISM, FOLKS. Wake the hell up.
With all of the gun nuts running around Florida, it might not be a bad idea.
Her kid is more likely to get shot while walking in the rain.
By a COP.
@elk
by zimmerman while carrying a bag of candy and tea
How many schools are there? How much will it cost? Is NRA going to foot the bill? USA is trillions of dollars in debt, how they afford that?
Raise the school tax for the people of the community?
If we can afford guards for our prisons, we
canshould afford guards for our schools. Why on earth should it be harder for a person to get a gun into a prison than into a school?I'd be willing to bet that close to 100% of people polled would prefer to keep guns out of schools over keeping them out of prisons. Re-allocate prison guards to schools. Let guns into prisons and our prisoner population goes down. Tax spending on prisons goes down, and our kids are safer. Win-win.
Why should the NRA foot the bill? Let the Community foot the bill. I pay school taxes & don't even have a kid in school. Let law abiding people keep their guns & have gaurds in our schools. Whacko's will get guns or any other type of weapon to do harm to our kids. I would feel better with someone there. But I guess some of the anti-gun nuts would say dis-arm responsible gun owners & put a sign up- "Gun Free Zone" That will keep them out. Well the ones that can read.
El Duderino,
Are you gonna personally perform all the body cavity searches at the local elementary school? Win, win for you, right?
That's a big part of keeping contaband out of prisions. And like you said, we can do it at prisons, so we should do it at schools, too.
Let's see...maybe they afford that through the local government. For example, here in Southern Indiana, a portion of our property tax goes to the local school system. We are not trillions of dollars in debt. In fact, we maintain our books in the black.
CockCheney, you purposely twist my point. 7 year olds aren't sneaking crack into school in their cornholes.
Looking at your past posts, it seems you have a history of intentionally inflammatory comments, so I am not really surprised.
Of course the NRA isn't going to fit the bill. The only bill they pay is thier lobbyists to ensure no background checks are approved. Don't forget, Republicans are trying to CUT funding to states for education expenses. Keeping your child safe is one of those expenses.
Where do you get this information? Again, being from Indiana, we've voted in a republican as governor....and he is raising funding for education by 10% of the current education budget. I don't understand the point of making up information based on stereotypes of either the Republican or Democratic party.
Next thing ya know some armed security guard is going to go nuts and kill some kids...then whom will we hire? Armed drug dealers? This @!$%#'ll never end
We will hire armed guards to watch over the armed guards who watch over the kids. And then when one of them goes nuts and fires his weapon, we will hire more armed guards to watch over the armed guards who watch over the armed guards who watch over the kids!
In my central European country, students go directly from high school to Med school or Law school. No four years and $160,000 wasted on a Bachelor's degree.
No armed guards at the secondary schools here.
What's America's problem?
@the truth
so you're saying secondary schools give the equivalent of a college ed ? BS
"I think that all parents should get together for the safety of their children, put money together somehow to provide security, if our city can't afford it"
While I don't agree this level of security is needed, I wonder what other parents of children in this school who are opposed to armed officers at the school think - since they had no say in the agreement... I DO agree that the parents should pay for this if they want it. Not the city, county, state or federal government
It's very doubtful that anyone there is opposed to arm guards.
$32 an hour?
We need to start sending the bills to the N.R.A.
How about a gun tax? I like that idea.
Tool,
There is already a 12% tax on all sporting goods over & beyond other types of goods. Let them use that money. It's already there. Guns, ammo, sleeping bags, tents & hunting gear all have at least an extra 12 % tax.
..the name should have been "TheToolOfFools", much more appropriate.
That $32 per hour is the persons pay...guess who still pays for their life insurance, health, pension, vacation,sick,personal days off, uniforms, weapons,vehicle etc just for a hour at 8-9 hours per day also ( very high amount)? The school districtTAXPAYERS are the ones who foot the rest!
In this SD there was sheriff's deputies in ALL schools. UNDERSTAND THAT! No choice involved.
The deputies were REMOVED from the elementary schools. The school district does NOT hire the deputies - the sheriff does. The function is as a resource officer NOT armed guard.
If the president can have armed guards for his children, why not me? or you? We will still pay the bill.
In our SD the officers are rotating between schools and have a continual presence in 'at risk' schools. They do not work for free and they should not be expected to.
MONEY WELL SPENT!
How about a stupidity tax? You'll be bankrupt in no time!
Then there is the matter of "Liability Insurance", when some accident happens, taking the responsibility for your actions. Other parents should not to be so willing to give up their own freedoms, at the point of a gun to strangers in the pay of others. Having a private guard is similar to a private army, it just matter of time before the children are seen as profit making hostages.
It's a deputy sheriff. She is paying money to the county so it has the funds to have a deputy sheriff there. A government employee. Therefore, sovereign immunity would apply. She didn't hire The A-Team to follow her kid around campus all day.
chrisMcK :
you cant explain nothing to these idiots, WHO CANT READ THE ARTICLE, but sure have alot to say about it, they only want to spew out there liberal ignorance about guns,
richmjones sits in the dark afraid of his own shadow and pisses himself when the dog barks !
Many are they who should have spent more time in elementary school.
@chris
no one ever died in the a-team adventures back in the 80's despite the gratuitous shooting.
i am thinking most of yall didnt even read the story..
ALL 10 schools in the district used to have armed guards. Budget cuts made them choose where to post guards. They picked the Middle and High Schools.
read the damn story before posting.
School budget cuts removed the guards a few years ago. Now, as per the Obama mentality, the school board is looking to the State or Feds to pay the bill. Typical of the liberal left. Let someone else pay for our needs.
I read where all the other schools in the district have security guards, too. I was wondering why that was necessary? Truly, I don't know the neighborhoods of that area. Is it a violent area? If I could afford to pay that much for a guard, why wouldn't I put my child in a private school? It's nice that she pays for the whole school, but if that area is that well-to-do economically, I would think the school would be funded on its own for security. (The article said that the grade schools' guards were cut from the budget.) Just wondering. It seems that this lady has more money than she knows what to do with. BTW, I know a lot of good people who would love to be making $32 an hour. Maybe I'm in the wrong business.
Thats $32 that is going to the county to pay for Deputy to be stationed at the school . That includes the cost of a car and all the other associated overhead .
Actually Flagler county is not a bad area. There are plenty of worse areas just a bit south in Daytona, and unless you've lived there you just can't comprehend how bad things are a bit southwest in Orlando. So yeah, there's much worse places than Flagler, this just seems like a knee-jerk reaction to faraway events.
the function is "Resource Officer" not armed guard. The reason to choose the middle and high schools is due to the greater number of 'at risk' activities and students. They help young people to make healthy choices for freinds and activities.
OUR PARENTS USED TO DO THAT TOO!!
Thanks for the details. Too bad MSNBC couldn't get them for the original article. Oh well. Best wishes to all.
Good God woman. You have to let go sometime. It could happen anywhere and unfortunately it did. Newton
If it's your time to go, you could die any which way, including a freak accident.
If you're meant to survive, you will, even if there's a loaded gun pointing in your face.
I guess she has more faith in the arm of flesh, a Glock, and her checkbook than she does in God, karma, or whatever. Pity the kid; she probably pre-chews his food so the kid doesn't choke on it.
Gun tax. The school budgets are already in crisis. The worst part is that while we cut funding to reading, math and science and make one teacher deal with a room of 30+ kids we can somehow find money for armed security. Look, I am OK with armed (and well-trained) security, but hopefully we don't have to cut from other essential things. Schools have been having to do that quite a bit in Texas. I really have trained security specialists that arming the teachers.
If school budgets are in crisis, you raise general taxes (sales tax, property tax). A "sin" tax on guns won't work because it is too narrow.
Sophie-472322-608038
Already have a gun ammo & sporting good tax. Use the money that's already being paid.
Kevin D. Hoke,
I'm not sure what tax on gun ammo and sporting goods you are talking about, but it's not here in Florida!
We have the TSA, we have officers at school. We're paranoid about wackos.
Our money would be much better spent identifying and treating the sicko's in our society. We should also stop shielding people and 'protecting their privacy' until they do something truly heinous.
I didnt see any one mention the part where all the parents should get together & pay for the "Guard"!!! I t would be a lot easier on the wallet of instead JUST one parent!!!
Because most parents are taking care of their kids, including teaching them not to be afraid of their own shadows or of their futures, and to do their homework and their chores. Many parents are working two to three jobs just to put food on the table and a roof over their heads, and don't have the money or the sense of alarm for her Project:Boogeyman
I sure wouldn't chip in. If you think it's so great, why don't you send her some money, or start raising funds for Project:Boogeyman.
I don't care if she hires a whole platoon of soldiers to guard her kid. Just as long as I am not asked to pay taxes to help. My children are all raised, graduated from college and gone so I don't have a dog in that fight.
Ron Brock
My kids are all gone in in their late twenties. I pay school & College taxes in two different Counties.
To paraphrase Ron Brock: "As long as it's not my kids dieing, I could care less."
Every union has 'goons' they use as enforcers. Since the teachers are all in a union, simply deploy the 'enforcers' to every school as protection for both the teachers and students? The teamsters have done that sort of thing in the past to 'protect' truckers from angry citizens and federal agents.
NRA has a program: The National School Shield, which would help pay the cost of placing a qualified armed guard at any type of school facility.
So why didn't she go to the NRA?
So how many "nut jobs" are going to be applying for those $32/hr jobs now? Sounds like a good racket. Can't wait for some trigger-happy gun lover to park himself out the front of my kids school. Home schooling is starting to sound more reasonable every day.
Think it all comes down to mental health issues? Then start helping people. Look around you. People everywhere need help. They may say they don't want it, but at least offer it. Leaving it up to professionals doesn't cut it anymore. Be aware of your surroundings, your neighbors, your family and your friends. Just offer help. And do it without expectation. This is a team effort - whether you are for or against guns. It's not that hard.
Try helping a violent sociopath and see how that goes for you. The problem with such people is, you CAN'T help them. This isn't some disease where they just need a little help getting around on the stairs, it's a mental problem where they will try to kill you. You might as well try to "help" a rabid dog.
Have to start somewhere. The neighbors of that Newtown kid knew he was disturbed and knew his mother was a gun collector. It was a blatant recipe for disaster. Why didn't any of their neighbors buck up and talk to the mother, or get authorities involved if needed? Too late now. It's always too late. Too sad.
Can you not understand - this a sheriff's deputy. $32.00 is the total cost of putting him on the job. It is NOT his take home pay.
I dare you to make the same harsh gun nut comments to the face of the next trooper you meet.
While I think the idea of having armed guards in schools is nuts, I'm also wondering what would this deputy get paid if he wasn't in the school? Don't we pay taxes for government services like police? So what's the $12K for?
#1. Hopefully she did not hire one on this.
#2. Taxpayers across the country are subsidizing the manufacturers of assault rifles. Maybe they are the one to pay for arm guards to guard against things they manufacture.
Hell I would come out of retirement and do the job for only $25.00 per hour.
You do not have to be armed to go and help. Just be a helper - like the peace corp - but at home. Your willingness to take a bullet will be a huge asset.
ACLU will step in. Lawyers will tell the Laura chick, that she has to pay for security at all the schools, can't discriminate against other schools
That's the rule in our school district. You raise the money for resurfacing the track to get it up to Olympic standards, or the money to bring in another faculty member, 80% goes to the school, 20% to the school district to fund other projects that other parents are fund-raising on.
For 32 dollars an hour, a bullet proof vest, and a weapon, I hope (s)he at least takes out the trash too. On those slow days when nothing happens, maybe they could cut the grass?
There is a sucker born every day does this Mom actually believe the Police Officer will be able to stop a person with a weapon which lays down hundreds of rounds per minute and how many doors does the school have ? A waste of money.
The playground is open to the elements. Don't forget the new rifles that can accurately shoot from a distance of six football fields away.
Ummm...she does realize, does she not, that an armed guard would not prevent a Columbine or Sandy Hook style incident, as said guard would be the first target/victim?
Columbine had armed guards. Fat lotta good that did.
Or on the other side of the building when the shooter first arrives. Murphy's Law.