Osceola County charter schools to consider using guardians instead of SROs

OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. — Talks are underway in Osceola County to pull school resource officers out of some schools permanently.

The change could affect charter schools in Osceola County next school year.

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The schools could instead use the guardian program put in place after the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.

Staffing shortages have been an issue and the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Kissimmee Police and St. Cloud police are looking for ideas to help fill those positions.

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Osceola County is one of the only counties in Central Florida that does not use the guardian program in their schools.

Osceola County opted to stick with school resource officers.

Charter schools, by law, could do it differently if they wanted and the school board was OK with that.

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“I think they’ve got to make their own decision on what fits them,” School Board Chairman Clarence Thacker said. “They’re a business and they have some fiscal responsibilities and they have funding, just as we have all those things and they have to figure out how to best use their budget.”

The district scheduled a public meeting on the issue for May 6.