JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — To some people, it came as a surprise move, but Clay County School board members said creating their own police force is the way to go.
The decision puts an end to the days of paying the Clay County Sheriff's office for the service.
"By having our own police department within the school district, we will save $2 million dollars over the next couple of years," said school board chairman Carol Studdard.
Studdard said school officials looked at five options and what they were spending helped drive their decision.
"We are spending $1.9 million for 19 people," said Studdard, "while in St. Johns County they're spending $2.1 million for 31 deputies."
Studdard said even though Clay County voters voted to raise taxes for school security, it is only good for four years and they have to make sound financial decisions now.
"We're trying to do what we need to do and also be fiscally responsible," she said.
The decision to create their own police force disappoints Clay County Sheriff Darryl Daniels. He released this statement:
“I don’t think the Clay County School Board thought this through. There’s an investigative side to law enforcement that they’re not thinking about. The jurisdiction will belong to the school board police department, with coverage being needed 24 hours a day.
We do wish that the school board had partnered with us in their planning phase for their police department. With that not occurring, I did hope for a chance to speak at the meeting last night, in order to provide insight on these matters, but my members and I were never called upon.
That said, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office won’t let the school board fail, because allowing them to fail will be all of us failing our children. We will do anything we can to help. We will continue to be here for the school board and especially for our community, as we are every day.”
Studdard said he was at the meeting and he was invited to share his input.
"I would welcome anytime to sit down and have a conversation with the sheriff," she said.
Mike Antalee is a Clay County parent with two children in the district. He finds fault in the decision.
"To start their own police department without even consulting the sheriff seems a bit crazy to me and the other parents," he said.
Superintendent Addison Davis said the board has made its decision and the district is moving forward. He said in a statement:
"Over the last few weeks, the School Board directed me to provide multiple options related to developing school safety plans for the 19-20 school year. Therefore, staff and I created five options that included all agencies and every facet required to start an effective police department. Through this development, the district used financial models that have been provided from all law enforcement agencies to devise adequate plans. At this time, my role as Superintendent is to implement the plan extended from the school board. With this said, I will work diligently to create an efficient and effective police department with the singular goal of protecting all students, faculty, and staff."
The plan is to have the police department in place for the start of the 2020 school year; 41 positions.
Clay would join 15 other school districts in the state with their own police department.
As for the schools in Green Cove Springs and Orange Park, their respective police departments will continue to serve those schools through an inter-local agreement.