GAINESVILLE, Ga. — Gainesville City Schools System just hired 10 armed security guards to patrol every school in that district.
Each elementary and middle school will have its own armed guard while two will be assigned to Gainesville High School.
Channel 2′s Larry Spruill spoke with parents in Gainesville who said this makes them feel good about sending their children to school.
“I actually find it comforting to me, that I know my son is going to be taken care of and protected while he’s in school,” said Sheriah Johnson.
It’s the sense of security for Sheriah Johnson. She has a son who attends Mundy Mill Arts Academy in Gainesville. “It takes some of the worry off my mind,” said Johnson.
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Superintendent Jeremy Williams said more than 50 people applied for the roles. The 10 guards hired have a combined 296 years of experience in law enforcement, military and private investigation services.
“It’s just, think of it as another layer, when you go to a sporting event, when you go to a concert, when you go just about anywhere, you see an additional layer of safety, of security,” said Williams.
All guards will report to the new Safety and Security Manager Bonner Burton, who has worked for Hall County Sheriff’s Office for 27 years.
The guards will begin their assignments on Tuesday and will undergo continuous firearm training.
“That combined with the desire for positive interaction with students and visitors will be our goal,” Burton said. “The safety of our students is a combination of high visibility, managing relationships and diligence in building and maintaining a secure campus.”
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Channel 2′s Richard Elliot first reported on the school district’s plan in July. The district approved the plan for $1 million to hire the guards.
During a school board meeting, Williams acknowledged it was in response to the mass shooting at the elementary school in Uvalde, Texas.
Many are wondering, will teachers also be armed?
“I was often asked, why would you not arm your teachers and administrators, because that does come up, at the end of day, my teachers are trained to teach, and their jobs are to educate our kids and prepare them in that way. Our administrators need to be the ones that are running the schools,” said Williams.
The armed guards are in addition to school resource officers supplied by Gainesville police as there are not enough city officers to be placed in every single school.
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