Article Originally Published Here.
The School Board’s Finance and Operations Committee has recommended the approval of the division’s contract with Allied Universal Security Services for the more than 80 contracted security guards used by Loudoun County Public Schools.
Amy Riccardi (Sterling) asked division staff members if the services provided by the contracted guards are reviewed, to which staff said that it happens quarterly. Riccardi also said that “this contract is actually not really for security per se … but it’s really more about vestibule and visitor management.”
Committee Chair Deana Griffiths (Ashburn) said she was concerned about the contract because the guards are vetted and hired by Allied Universal rather than school officials. She said she had heard stories of guards playing games on their phones while on duty and not being able to speak English.
Clark said all guards were required to speak English and that other concerns were addressed with Allied Universal supervisors.
Jon Pepper (Dulles) asked questions about the financial impact of using contracted guards for visitor management. Division finance chief Sharon Willoughby told him that using contractors was cheaper than hiring staff for the roles because the division does not need to pay them benefits.
The contract had received some scrutiny from committee members because of questions about LCPS’s security posture in the wake of Sheriff Mike Chapman’s request to add school resource officers to elementary schools. Chapman’s request was not approved by the Board of Supervisors but has led to questions from board and community members about what kinds of protections elementary schools have.
School officials have repeatedly declined to discuss the security presence assigned to elementary schools and whether any of it is armed. Superintendent Aaron Spence told supervisors during a budget meeting that there are no school security officers in elementary schools. When asked about it, an LCPS spokesperson said that he thought the statement had been misunderstood but declined to explain why.
However, during the meeting on Tuesday, Clark told Riccardi that Allied Universal guards are assigned to all elementary schools and to a couple of middle and high schools. He did not say whether they are armed.
Loudoun Now filed a Freedom of Information Act request for the Allied Universal contract and was given a redacted version, citing the FOIA law allowing redaction of material for counterterrorism purposes. The censored parts appeared to be the portions that discussed whether the security guards were armed.
The contract is worth $3 million and includes a 2.6% hourly raise for Allied personnel. The guards are primarily responsible for checking visitors in and out of schools and providing security at varsity football games and at School Board meetings. They do not patrol schools or intervene in fights and student discipline issues, according to Clark.
The contract is slated for approval as part of the noncontroversial consent agenda at a future School Board meeting.
