LAUSD Hires 440 Security Aides For Its Elementary Schools

LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — The Los Angeles School District is increasing the safety of its schools.

As part of a $4.2 million plan to increase school security, the district has hired 440 security aides armed with radios to patrol its elementary schools.

LAUSD Superintendent John Deasy told KNX 1070 these aides are in addition to the 1,028 guards already assigned to high school and middle school campuses.

"We are in the process of completely the hire that we promised. We are placing two aides in every single elementary campus where they were not before," Deasy said. "They man the gates, they secure the perimeter and they notify the police of the LAPD and LAUSD PD if they are required."

In the wake of recent school shootings, the district guaranteed measures would be taken to provide increased school safety.

"The safety of our students and staff remains a top priority," Senior Deputy Superintendent Michelle King said in a statement earlier this year.

In the Jan. 23 memo, she announced the district's plan to add over 1,000 campus aides who will work a minimum of three-hour shifts.

"We don't make guarantees about what crazy people might and might not do. What we do is ensure maximum security at all of our schools and safety so that our students can come to school in a place where they can learn and be cared for and be safe," Deasy said.

The memo stated the security aides are fully equipped "with two-way radios and vests for high visibility."

"We want less guns on campus, not more guns on campus. I do not feel it is an appropriate step to have armed weapons at elementary schools," Deasy said. "I think the appropriate step is to make sure we have security at our schools, that our staff is trained and able to notify more officers whenever and if ever they are needed."