Guns on campus are on the table at Duval Schools HQ, according the agenda for a Thursday board workshop meeting.
Two weeks after a principal was arrested and charged with having a gun in his vehicle at Baldwin Middle-Senior High School, the seven-member Duval County School Board will consider changing the policy that prohibits employees from keeping weapons in their vehicles while parked on district property.
The proposed policy would allow employees and other adults — but not students — to lawfully store guns in cars while parked on school campuses or other district properties. As proposed, the policy allowing guns in cars would include school-sponsored events like football games.
After receiving an anonymous tip that Principal Michael E. Smith had a gun in his truck parked at Baldwin on Sept. 15, Duval County School Police say a gun-sniffing dog located it in Smith’s unlocked vehicle.
At a press conference following Smith’s arrest, Superintendent Christopher Bernier said, “At no time is it safe for anyone to be on our campuses with a gun.”
“Somebody who violates the safety and the sanctity of our school buildings like this deserves our full attention,” Bernier said then.
Jacksonville Today has requested public records to try to see how the policy proposal came about, so quickly and in such stark contrast to what Bernier said. That record request was not fulfilled by this story’s publication.
Spokespeople for St. Johns County Schools and Clay Schools tell Jacksonville Today their districts do not allow anyone but law enforcement and security officials to bring guns onto school property. Nassau Schools did not respond.
Florida law allows guns to be securely stored in cars on school campuses by default but gives districts the option of prohibit guns in cars if they choose.
The Duval County School Board workshop to discuss the gun policy and several other policy changes is on Thursday, Oct. 1, at 1 p.m. at 1701 Prudential Drive. The meeting is open to the public.
A final vote on the policy change could come as soon as Nov. 10.
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