The district's elementary schools will have an additional 24 full-time police officers in their ranks, or about one officer for every three schools. The 30 police aides hired in January will remain at schools with multiple entry points. And $5.8 million has been budgeted for new fencing and campus security.
"After [the Newtown, Conn. slayings last December], we had a team survey every school campus and look to see if we could raise the standard of security," said Mike Burke, the school district's chief operating officer.
The Palm Beach County district operates its own police department of 141 school-based officers, at a cost of roughly $8 million. Every middle and high school already had its own officer. The 24 new elementary-based officers will cost an additional $1.6 million a year and the aides will cost another $800,000.
Burke said the district was able to fund the new positions, in part, with increased money from the state.
"This is the only area where we are really adding any resources," he said. "In the rest of the departments, we're shifting resources around."
The new officers will help restore staffing to pre-recession levels.
Lisa Lee, principal at Poinciana Elementary in Boynton Beach, said even though schools won't get dedicated officers, she is glad they'll have to share a little less.
Last year, there was one officer for every five elementary schools.
"Any additional ways that the district can keep our students safe is worthy," she said.
But parent Mindy Brodsky, of Highland Beach, questioned whether the added measures were necessary.
"I'd rather see the money put into school psychologists," she said. "Schools are safe enough, and it's already extremely difficult to get in on campus."
School Police Chief Lawrence Leon said school-based officers don't just provide protection — they're there for prevention, too.
"The best thing is being able to build relationships with the students," he said. "It's really taking a proactive approach with the elementary kids."
Leon said his officers will receive increased training in areas such as active shooter preparationand building searches.
Police aides, who are not armed, will only patrol the front gates and perimeters.
"We took a very hard look at everything that occurred and what we put in place," he said. "It's not a knee-jerk reaction, it's a methodical approach."
This year's security boost may just be the beginning. The district's three-year capital budget includes more funding for security enhancements on campuses, and officials are working toward requiring card access to enter schools.
"Our society is changing, the access people have to weapons, the attitude that people have about violence," said School Board Chairman Chuck Shaw. "As the world changes, its incumbent on us that we address those changes and be able to respond to it."
Ken Trump, a school security expert based in Ohio, said Palm Beach County has historically been proactive in school policing and is on par with districts nationwide.