STATE OF ALADAMA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION ‘sae Speen of Eaton eae July 27, 2018 MEMORANDUM oan TO: City and County Superintendents FROM: Eric G. Mackey cae State Superintendent of Education oe RE: Alabama Sentry Program ment The Alabama Sentry Program (ASP) permits an authorized and certified school administrator, as defined by the local board of education, in a school without a fulltime school resource officer (SRO), who voluntarily secures the approval of his or her superintendent, school board, and local sherif to use Soe lethal force to defend students, faculty, staff, and visitors of his or her schoo! from the threat of imminent sco bodily harm or death by an armed intruder. ‘The program is entirely voluntary on the part of the school administrator who is @ prospective sentry. A ‘win tisitaaeenean | School board may not require participation and may not use participation or non-participation as a pee, qualifier for employment. A required training module for sentries who participate in the ASP will be developed and administered cme through an approved course from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) at a location to be ey determined. The following is a suggested process: on | The local board of education, in consultation with the superintendent, must decide whether to participate in the Alabama Sentry Program. The decision to participate is considered an amendment to the schoo! safety plan in accordance with Section 16-1-44 (c)(2), Code of Alabama, ieee 1975, which is not subject to certain provisions of the Alabama Open Records Act nt Section 36-12-40, Code of Alabama, 1975. The local board of education should consult with its own legal counsel regarding any policy amendments, changes to the safety plan, as well as any ‘open records and/or open meetings requirements. wer sevttunwric. | 2. The local board of education, through its superintendent andior legal counsel, should initiate an agreement with the focal sheriff if it wishes to implement the ASP whereby the authorized school ‘administrator is appointed as a reserve deputy sherif. The local sheriff will vet each approved candidate to ensure all requisite qualifications are met such as mental and physical fness for duty {as detailed below. The ASP is, at its most essential level, an agreement between the local board of education and the focal sheriff. Both of these entities should consult their own legal counsel regarding the type, extent, parameters, and term of any proposed agreement ‘oncon Pesos BLING +P, ROX P21 « MonercoMERY, ALARAA 36192101 eTeAsMONE (3M) 242-970D6FaX(OM) 2427086 Wes: we se hsMemorandum to City and County Superintendents, Page 2 July 27, 2018 3, Asentry candidate must be a school administrator who is properly certified by the local sheriff and ‘works in a participating school system where the local board of education has voted to implement the rogram. Such a candidate who wishes to become a sentry should send a letter to the superintendent establishing his or her desire to participate. The Alabama State Department of Education (ALSDE)- issued certificates, which are considered “school administrator" certificates for the purpose of this rogram are: Instructional Leader © Educational Administrator * Principal * Career and Technical Administrator 4, The superintendent may decide whether to forward the letter to the local sheriff for full evaluation and provisional approval 5. If the letter is forwarded to the local sheriff, it is the responsibility of the sheriff, subject to the agreement previously made between the sheriff and the board, to determine fitness of the sentry candidate. The sheriff will be responsible for completing each of the following for each sentry candidate at 2 minimum: + Physical fitness for duty evaluation ‘+ Psychological fitness for duty assessment, using validated instruments and in-depth personal history evaluations «Drug and alcohol screening Background check «Valid pistol permit verification 6. Alter the local sheriff validates fitness of the candidate, he or she will refer the candidate to ALEA, 7. ALEA will notify the candidate of training opportunities and requirements. ALEA will copy the local sheriff and the local superintendent on its communications with the candidate. 8. After ALEA has certified that the candidate has completed the required training to serve as a sentry, ALEA will certify such to the local sheriff 9. The local sheriff may then deputize the sentry candidate who may then be authorized as a reserve deputy sheriff as provided by law. See Ala, Code §16-1-44.1 (1978). 10. The local sheriff will notify the local superintendent of this action 11. The procurement of any authorized equipment such as a firearm, ballistic vest or biometric safe is the sole responsibility of the local board of education. In short, we continue to stay engaged on the state level with our partners in the Governor's Office, the Attomey General's Office, ALEA, and other state stakeholders. Moreover, as we lear additional information we will seek to provide a list of FAQs to assist the LEAs in making the most informed decisions relative to participation in this vital program Although this is a local program, we stand ready to assist each of you with any pertinent issues such 2s certification verification that may arise EGM:LAK Fyie-1014