The principal at Villages Elementary of Lady Lake will be carrying a gun when classes resume this fall.
Principal David Bordenkircher volunteered to be an administrator armed through the Guardian program. The Lake County School Board recently agreed to begin arming administrators in the schools.
Bordenkircher admitted he “struggled” with the decision.
“But my kids and my school are the most important thing to me outside of my family,” Bordenkircher said.
He has been principal at Villages Elementary of Lady Lake for the past six years and an educator for more than 30 years. He grew up around guns and is familiar with gun safety. He will be undertaking 130 hours of training as part of the Guardian program.
Meanwhile, the Lady Lake Commission on Monday opted not to contribute financial support for placing a safety officer in the school.
“I am all for school safety. I don’t think a child should be afraid to go to school. I don’t think a parent should be afraid to send their child to school,” said Commissioner Ruth Kussard.
She noted that “a big chunk of money” goes to the school district.
“I still think it’s the school board’s responsibility,” she said.
Mayor Jim Richards concurred with her assessment. Rather than have Lady Lake pick up the burden, he said it should be shared by residents of Lake County.
“It’s better to have 300,000 people paying a little bit than 15,000 paying a lot,” Richards said.
The school board has indicated it is willing to contribute $40,000 toward the cost of the Lady Lake school safety officer.
However, Town Manager Kris Kollgaard said the cost of an officer with benefits and patrol car is $140,000 per year.
“It is the elementary school and we want to do what we can to protect the children. But it would be an ongoing expense,” she said.
