Orange County schools are facing a tough decision about campus safety as contract talks with local police hit a wall. The district may soon replace school resource officers (SROs) with school guardians starting in the 2025-2026 school year if no agreement is reached.
The trouble began when police departments from Apopka, Winter Garden, Winter Park, Ocoee, and Windermere rejected a three-year deal to keep SROs on school grounds. Despite offering a 20% pay raise with promises of gradual increases over the next few years, the district couldn’t lock in a deal. Now, they’re considering training school guardians as a backup plan—but they’d rather not go down that road.
Board Member Angie Gallo explained the dilemma. “An SRO brings so much more to the table than a guardian. They can handle things guardians can’t—like breaking up fights, making arrests, and tapping into law enforcement resources.”
Guardians, on the other hand, are trained to act only in life-threatening situations, like stopping an intruder. They aren’t allowed to intervene in everyday conflicts. That limitation is a concern, especially in a year where the U.S. has already seen 78 school shootings.
So, why are some police departments holding out? Apopka Police Chief Mike McKinley said a one-year contract would work better, giving both sides time to adjust for future changes. “This approach allows us to adapt to shifting costs and needs,” he explained. Meanwhile, police in Orlando and unincorporated Orange County have agreed to the three-year deal, saying they’re committed to ensuring officers are present in schools.
“We’re doing what’s right for our community,” said Orlando Police Chief Eric Smith. “We looked at the big picture and decided this was the best choice for our kids.”
The district hasn’t given up hope. Gallo says if the state increases funding for school safety, they’re ready to channel that money directly into officer pay. “Other cities figured it out,” she said. “We just need to prioritize our students.”
For now, the district is exploring how to train school guardians—a process that could take six months. Officials will meet next Tuesday to discuss their options and, hopefully, find a path forward that keeps schools safe and secure.
