FLAGLER BEACH, Fla.-- In the wake of the tragedy at Newtown, Conn., sending children to school got a little scarier for parents like Sherry Furesz.
"I'm scared to death to send my kids to school because there's nothing but violence," she said.
But fortunately for Furesz, her children's school, Old Kings Elementary, is getting more protection. Another mom, Laurie Lauria is taking the safety of the school's kindergarten through sixth graders into her own hands.
Lauria wrote an $11,000 check to place an armed off-duty deputy in her daughter's school. At a $32 an hour rate, that should cover about two months of protection.
"I think all parents need to step up concerning their children," said Furesz, who is happy about the change.
"It's a very generous offer, how could we possible say no?" said Flagler district superintendent, Janet Valentine. Valentine tells Action News the district simply didn't factor beefed-up security into this year's school budget and Lauria didn't want to wait another year.
"She did a lot of the homework herself. She then contacted the principal, she contacted the sheriff's department to see the feasability of this."
Action News has learned the deputy is already on campus.
Students tell Action News they are grateful they can now learn in a safer environment.
"I would have to say thank you very much," said fifth-grader May Arrendondo. "You're helping us quite a lot. If anything happens you know there's somebody there to help you and protect you."
Lauria also told administrators she plans on paying for the deputy to be on guard for the remainder of the school year.
The Flagler school district says it would hope to have deputies in all schools next year and make room for that possibility in next year's budget.
