Adults at Duval County schools, including Mandarin High and Mandarin Middle, could soon keep secured firearms in their parked vehicles on campus. The district's Policy Handbook Review Committee takes up the proposal Thursday.

The revision would carve out the district's first exception to its blanket ban on firearms on school property, Action News Jax reported. Under the proposal, administrators, employees, independent contractors and parents who legally own a firearm could possess it inside a parked vehicle as long as the weapon is securely encased or otherwise not readily accessible for immediate use. Students would remain excluded.

The district's current policy prohibits all firearms on all district properties. The proposed revision cites Florida Statute 790.115, which generally bans guns on school grounds but allows a person to carry a firearm in a vehicle under certain conditions. Districts can waive that exception only for student and campus parking privileges.

Proposal follows Baldwin principal's gun citation

The proposal surfaces roughly two weeks after Baldwin Middle-Senior High School Principal Michael Smith was criminally cited and reassigned Sept. 15 when a loaded gun was found in the center console of his car at the school, inside a holster. An anonymous tip led Duval County School Police Chief Jackson Short to investigate, according to News4Jax. Smith received a misdemeanor citation that requires a court appearance.

Action News Jax contacted all seven school board members about whether the change was connected to Smith's case and which member introduced it. None responded.

At a Sept. 15 press conference following Smith's reassignment, Superintendent Christopher Bernier said he opposed guns on campus and did not want anyone with a gun returning to any school location, as reported by Action News Jax. Bernier has not publicly commented on the proposed policy revision.

Florida PTA questions safety and enforcement

Jude Bruno, president of the Florida PTA, questioned the proposal. "Before changing its rules, Duval should explain how this would actually make students safer and how would it be enforced," he said. Bruno added that the Florida PTA supports trained school resource officers but views personal firearms in employee vehicles as a separate matter, and that parents should be part of any conversation about allowing guns at schools.

Committee review comes before full board vote

Thursday's committee meeting is a first step. If the committee recommends the revision, the full seven-member board would still need to vote. No date for that vote has been announced.

Duval County Public Schools stations at least one armed school police officer at every middle and high school. Elementary schools use a mix of local law enforcement, contracted armed security and school guardians, according to district safety information.