BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. — For the first time, SB 7026, also known as the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act, was on the Brevard County School Board’s agenda Tuesday.

  • People pack Brevard School Board meeting Tuesday
  • They voiced opposition to possibly arming school personnel
  • Sheriff proposes training volunteers to carry concealed weapons

It was a packed meeting. People who attended had red and green sheets of paper to show school board members their feelings about arming school personnel.

As a video of Sheriff Wayne Ivey started playing, those red sheets were held up.

The Sheriff Trained Onsight Marshal Programknown as S.T.O.M.P., is a program that would arm properly vetted and trained school volunteer personnel to carry concealed weapons. They would get 130 minimum hours of training and go through background checks.

Some parents are not on board with that, because the identities of those carrying a gun would be concealed from parents and students.

“I’m in favor of adding security but not arming teachers,” said Jennifer Carroll, a single mother of three.

On the other hand, Vern Blanchette supports S.T.O.M.P and attended the protest moments before the meeting.

 “This is fantastic, but I’m outnumbered,” Blanchette said.

During public comment that lasted several hours, a lot of the speakers warned board members that when it’s time for re-election, if they vote in favor of S.T.O.M.P., they would vote for their opponent.

The item was not up for a vote Tuesday. It needs to happen soon because there are only five months left to follow the new legislation that will take effect at the beginning of the next school year.