Lagarda Security outlines training, floaters and command‑center approach; board presses on pay and retention

Oak Park, Mich. — Representatives from Lagarda Security told the Oak Park School District Board on June 8 that the company offers an in‑house training program, a pool of cross‑trained floaters and a 24‑hour command center to provide rapid coverage when officers fail to report.

At the presentation the vendor emphasized classroom and hands‑on training for school‑assigned officers, verification of certifications and an app‑based tracking system for real‑time monitoring. "One of the things that I always make sure I point out is that not only do we provide the training, our own in‑house trainers," the company representative said during the presentation.

Board members and staff followed with pointed questions about retention, cultural competency and pay. A board member warned against treating security as a line item to be cut, saying, "Security is my passion. It's my heart...the safety of our kids, that's our number one priority." That member pressed for clarity on officer pay and whether a new contract would reduce compensation compared with the district’s prior provider.

Administration replied that Lagarda maintains a pool of cross‑trained officers to cover call‑offs, that the vendor’s operations team is nearby, and that the district will receive a finalized fee schedule showing any hourly adjustments. Administration also noted a transition period from the current provider and said staff would remain in place until replacement staffing was arranged.

Why it matters: Security staffing and vendor practices directly affect school safety, daily operations and labor‑market outcomes for security personnel. Questions about retention, training specificity and pay are central to the district’s ability to keep campuses covered without sudden gaps.

Key exchanges
• Training and verification: The vendor described an ongoing training schedule with in‑house trainers, CPR and first‑intervention certifications and documentation that districts can verify on vendors’ websites.

• Call‑offs and coverage: The vendor said it maintains cross‑trained floaters and a nearby operations office to reduce the time a post is left uncovered; the company also operates a command center to monitor officers in real time.

• Pay and retention concerns: A board member expressed concern that lowering pay could damage retention and jeopardize student safety; the administration acknowledged the concern and promised a full fee schedule for review.

What remains unresolved: The final contract terms and fee schedule (including any per‑hour adjustments mentioned by administration) were not in the public record at the time of the meeting; the board approved the contract with the vendor but asked for the updated financial details to be returned to the board.