Citizen to Brevard Public Schools Board Chair: ‘If Something Happens to a Child…We’re Coming for You’

BPS: Safety is Brevard Public Schools' number one priority for all students and staff

WATCH: During Tuesday morning’s Brevard Public Schools meeting public comment portion, Board Chair Megan Wright was threatened by Amy Roub, who was then removed from the meeting. Roub, who was among about a dozen citizens who addressed the board about the Guardian program, said, “Megan, if something happens to a child…we’re coming for you.” After being threatened, Wright conferred with the BPS board attorney, and then had Roub removed from the meeting. You can watch the exchange in the above video at the 1:12 mark.

During the Brevard Public Schools board meeting two weeks ago, the board voted in favor of the expansion of the Brevard County Sheriff Training On Site Marshall Program (S.T.O.M.P.) to include district personnel who meet specific qualifications to serve as Guardians.

During Tuesday morning’s BPS meeting public comment portion, Board Chair Megan Wright was threatened by Amy Roub, who was then removed from the meeting.

Roub, who was among about a dozen citizens that addressed the board about the Guardian program said, “Megan, if something happens to a child…we’re coming for you.”

After being threatened, Wright conferred with the BPS board attorney, and then had Roub removed from the meeting. You can watch the exchange in the above video at the 1:12 mark.

“Safety is Brevard Public Schools’ number one priority for all students and staff, and the inclusion of Guardians to supplement our School Resource Officers and School Security Specialists, will further support our mission to serve every student with excellence as the standard,” said a BPS spokesperson after the board passed the program with a 4-1 vote.

The expansion allows employees the opportunity to apply to be a school-based guardian.

The program is voluntary and only employees who are not assigned to a classroom, and as outlined in the terms of their Brevard Federation of Teacher bargaining contract, may volunteer and/or qualify.

All employee volunteers who qualify for, and are accepted into, the S.T.O.M.P. program will undergo employment vetting, and must successfully complete the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office S.T.O.M.P training requirements before completion.

Employee volunteers who advance, will have no law enforcement authority in any capacity, except in the extent necessary to prevent or stop an active assailant incident at any Brevard Public School’s site.

“This is an additional layer of security for our schools. While this program is new to Brevard, it is not new to Florida as numerous other districts have had Guardians in schools for several years,” said BPS Superintendent Dr. Mark Rendell.

“The individuals who will be in the program are not classroom teachers or other positions that are part of the instructional staff covered by the teacher contract. All Guardians will have to go through the same screening process and intensive training that is required by our School Safety Specialists. I am thankful that we have employees who are willing to volunteer to serve in these positions. I am also grateful for the strong partnership we have the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office which provides such rigorous training.”

S.T.O.M.P. was formed by the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office, in partnership with Brevard Schools, following the tragic events which occurred at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School on February 14, 2018.

In accordance with the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School Public Safety Act (Florida Senate Bill 7026), S.T.O.M.P. was developed and has served as our program which oversees all School Resource Officers and Security Specialists within Brevard Public Schools sites.

Training is currently slated to begin July 2024, through collaboration with the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

For requests regarding further information on S.T.O.M.P. training, please contact the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office.

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