U.S. Senator Scott brings his 'Keeping Our Kids Safe' tour to Lecanto
Photo courtesy of CCSO.
Lecanto, Florida - On Tuesday, August 15, 2023, the Citrus County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) hosted a roundtable discussion at the agency's Emergency Operations Center in Lecanto, Florida, with special guest U.S. Senator Rick Scott who was on his "Keeping Our Kids Safe" tour, to discuss the School Guardian Act of 2023, the threat of unmonitored social media, and the dangers of the drug fentanyl.
The School Guardian Act of 2023, a bill proposed by Senator Scott, would support the hiring, training and equipping of armed law enforcement officers to provide full-time security at every K-12 school in the nation. The School Guardian Act of 2023, through a block grant program, would be administered by the U.S. Department of Justice and funded by reallocating currently unused portions of $80 billion appropriated to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in the Inflation Reduction Act. Every law enforcement officer assigned to a school would complete rigorous training to better protect students and school faculty members.
"The safety of our students and faculty will always remain a top priority," said Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast. "The School Guardian Act of 2023, proposed by Senator Scott, prioritizes school safety at the national level, which I am a strong advocate for. I believe we will soon see this vital legislation come to fruition, with the immense support that we've already seen from the Florida Sheriff's Association, the Florida Police Chiefs Association, the National Sheriffs' Association, and so many more. I urge everyone to support this proposed bill and reach out to your congressional leaders. Let's keep our children and our schools safe and protected."
Roundtable attendees from Citrus, Marion and Hernando, Florida counties included (see photo, left to right): Gary Marriage, parent, CEO and insurance professional; Dana James, Seven Rivers Christian School Headmaster; Doug Dodd, Citrus County School Board Chairman and Appointed Commissioner for the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Commission; Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods, U.S. Senator from Florida Rick Scott, Citrus County Sheriff Mike Prendergast, Hernando County Sheriff Al Nienhuis, Shannon Rodriguez, Hernando County School Board; Nicki Greene, parent and community leader, and Nick Choto, HCA Florida Citrus Hospital Director of Rehab Services.