GAINESVILLE (AP) — Alachua County’s law enforcement may temporarily patrol public elementary schools all day long once classes resume on Jan. 3.

The Gainesville Sun reports that the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office and the School Board are considering a proposal that would place armed deputies at the 12
elementary schools that lie outside Gainesville city limits for the duration of the school day.

If the proposal goes through, off-duty deputies would be assigned to
patrol the schools from
7:30 a.m. until 30 minutes after dismissal at the expense of the sheriff’s office.

Currently, school resource officers are provided to middle and high schools.

Officials are searching for ways to permanently fund school resource officers in elementary schools.