Three Florida school districts—Broward, Leon, and Volusia—have been selected to participate in the Campus Guardian Angel Pilot Program, which aims to enhance school safety using drone technology. The program was announced by Commissioner Anastasios Kamoutsas of the Florida Department of Education.
The Campus Guardian Angel Program is designed to use drones as a means of distracting active shooters while transmitting real-time audio and video feeds to school guardians and law enforcement during emergencies on school campuses. The initiative will be integrated with the Alyssa Alert platform in each participating district.
Commissioner Kamoutsas stated, “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. 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, said, “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. We are grateful to Governor DeSantis and Commissioner Kamoutsas for their leadership in this initiative.”
Laurie Cox, Chair of the Leon County School Board, commented on her district’s participation: “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. 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.”
Dr. Carmen Balgobin, Superintendent of Volusia County Schools, said, “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.”
Florida has invested more than $1.3 billion over recent years into strengthening security measures at schools statewide under Governor Ron DeSantis’ administration. This includes $557,000 allocated specifically for launching the Campus Guardian Angel Program.
For more information about how Florida supports safe learning environments across its public schools, visit the Safe Schools page on the Department’s website.
