Extra precautions to be taken at school board meetings
The Lee County School Board approved two good cause items during its meeting on Aug. 31, which will implement safety measures during its board meetings.
The first item that was approved was for the designation of the executive director of safety and security, now David Newlan, to be the sergeant at arms to assist the board chair and parliamentarian in keeping decorum and order in the chamber.
The second allows the superintendent, or designee to implement safety measures to include “bag searches for weapons, the use of wand detectors and any other safety measures deemed appropriate” during board meetings.
Board Member Melisa Giovannelli said for the last four years she has requested to have metal detectors used in different places and times throughout the district, including schools, to protect students and teachers, as well as staff at the district.
“A year before Parkland I requested it. It was never given any thought actually, but I find it is needed. It is time to make everything safe for everyone. This has nothing to do with the present audience or what is going on. This is something that goes back before Parkland, I felt the need. Parkland showed that there is a need,”she said. “I will be supporting this tonight. It is all about safety and control and something that we should be controlling.”
Board Member Gwyn Gittens also shared a few comments, as she too talked about safety when she first got onto the board.
“If you go back to 2019, I did bring up metal detectors and other safety measures. This has nothing to do with tonight. I have been bringing this up for the three years I have been on the board,” she said. “You have no idea when something happens. And it’s too late after something may happen. It’s not against any individual, any group. I’ve been bringing it up before.”
She, too, said they should have metal detectors in schools. Gittens said she was told that they did not have the staff in schools to man it and she begged to differ at that time and now.
“If we stop the weapons at the door then your children and everybody’s children should feel safer when they are in the room. It’s not about us up here personally. I feel like when God says it’s my time I’m going anyway,” Gittens said. “But why not keep people safe and that is why I will support it.”