Frank Russo Proposes Hiring Veterans for School Safety

Non-party affiliated candidate for Florida Governor, Frank J. Russo, has unveiled a new initiative aimed at enhancing school safety in the state. After spending a day as a substitute teacher at David C. Hinson Sr. Middle School in Daytona Beach, Russo gained firsthand experience of the challenges faced by educators and students.

Russo, who has run for Governor on a platform of practical solutions and a focus on Floridians' needs, decided to become a substitute teacher to better understand the daily realities of education. The process involved fingerprinting, a background check, and a drug screening, ensuring that Russo could safely enter the school environment.

During his day in the classroom, Russo noted the physical barriers surrounding schools, such as fencing and gates, which, while intended to protect students, can make schools feel isolated from the surrounding community. This observation led Russo to propose a new approach to school safety.

Russo’s proposal is to hire qualified veterans to serve as school safety officers. The initiative would focus on veterans already living in Florida, providing them with meaningful employment opportunities and leveraging their experience and training to enhance school safety. Russo believes that veterans, with their leadership and training, can contribute significantly to the safety and well-being of students and teachers.

The initial investment in the initiative is set at $100 million, with the plan to begin with K-8 schools and eventually expand the program. Russo emphasized that the goal is not to militarize schools but to create a safer and more welcoming environment for students and teachers.

The proposal also aims to support teachers by providing them with greater peace of mind, allowing them to focus on their primary role of educating students. Russo’s original plan calls for collaboration with education, public-safety, and local officials to develop the details of the training, screening, responsibilities, and implementation of the initiative.

Russo’s experience as a substitute teacher reinforced his belief that governance should be grounded in firsthand experience and understanding of the issues at hand.

The initiative is part of Russo’s broader strategy to address the challenges facing Florida’s education system. By bringing in veterans, Russo hopes to create a safer and more inclusive environment for all students and teachers. “We should be finding ways to put that experience to work here at home. Protect our children, support our teachers, and give veterans another opportunity to serve their communities.”

Russo’s proposal is part of his first-100-days agenda and is designed to address the immediate needs of Florida’s public schools. The candidate believes that by listening to the people who live with the problem every day, he can work together to find practical solutions. “That’s how I believe you govern. You listen to the people actually living with the problem, and then you work together to fix it,” Russo concluded.