Three Florida school districts—Broward, Leon, and Volusia—will begin using drones as part of a new initiative to enhance campus security. The Campus Guardian Angel Pilot Program aims to improve the safety of students and staff by deploying drones capable of distracting active shooters while sending live audio and video feeds to school guardians and law enforcement. The program will be integrated with the Alyssa Alert platform already used in these districts.
Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas announced the launch, emphasizing the importance of safe learning environments. “Ensuring students and teachers have a safe and secure learning environment is one of my top priorities as Commissioner. Florida remains the national leader in school safety because we continue to invest in solutions that protect students and support a rapid, coordinated response,” Kamoutsas said. “The Guardian Angel Program is an important step in expanding the safety tools available to our districts. I thank Governor DeSantis for driving these efforts forward and ensuring our schools have the resources they need.”
Dr. Howard Hepburn, Superintendent of Broward County Public Schools, highlighted how the new system would improve their emergency response capabilities: “Broward County Public Schools keeps safety at the forefront of everything we do. The integration of the Guardian Angel Program will strengthen our ability to respond swiftly and decisively in the event of a threat,” he stated. “We are grateful to Governor DeSantis and Commissioner Kamoutsas for their leadership in this initiative.”
Laurie Cox, Chair of the Leon County School Board, noted that joining this pilot program provides another level of protection for their district: “As we join the Campus Guardian Angel Pilot Program, Leon County Schools is embracing another layer of protection that enhances rapid response, real-time awareness and coordinated action,” Cox said. “We appreciate the state’s commitment to equipping our district with advanced tools and look forward to this partnership helping ensure every campus remains a place of learning and safety.”
Volusia County Schools Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin expressed pride in participating: “Volusia County Schools is proud to be a part of the pilot for the Campus Guardian Angel Program. By participating in this program, we are reinforcing our commitment to proactive safety measures and smart, coordinated response. This is another important step in ensuring our campuses not only teach students well, but also protect them well.”
According to officials, more than $1.3 billion has been invested statewide under Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration toward improving school security measures over recent years; specifically for this drone-based pilot program, $557,000 has been allocated.
For further details on how Florida supports safe learning environments across its schools through programs like this one or others related to campus security initiatives by visiting Safe Schools page on Florida Department of Education’s website.
