Volusia County Schools selected for pilot program using drone tech to enhance safety

Date Added: November 17, 2025 3:37 pm

DELAND—Volusia County Schools is proud to announce that it has been chosen as one of only three school districts in Florida to participate in a groundbreaking pilot program with Campus Guardian Angel, a Texas-based company pioneering the use of drone technology to protect students and staff during active shooter situations. 

The Florida Legislature allocated $557,000 to fund this initiative, marking a bold step toward transforming school safety statewide. 

“Ensuring students and teachers have a safe and secure learning environment is one of my top priorities as Commissioner. Florida remains the national leader in school safety because we continue to invest in solutions that protect students and support a rapid, coordinated response,” Commissioner of Education Anastasios Kamoutsas said. “The Guardian Angel Program is an important step in expanding the safety tools available to our districts. I thank Governor DeSantis for driving these efforts forward and ensuring our schools have the resources they need.” 

Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin expressed her gratitude and commitment to leveraging technology for student safety. 

“Every child deserves to learn in an environment where they feel safe and protected. At Volusia County Schools, safety is our highest priority, and we embrace innovative solutions that help us achieve that goal,” Superintendent Dr. Balgobin said. “Being selected for this pilot program is an incredible honor, and we are grateful for the opportunity to lead the way in using cutting-edge technology to safeguard our students and staff. This initiative reflects our commitment to proactive security measures and to ensuring that our schools remain places of learning, not fear.” 

The Campus Guardian Angel system deploys non-lethal drones within seconds of an emergency alert, providing real-time video to law enforcement and using deterrents such as sirens, flashing lights, and pepper spray pellets to disorient a potential attacker. The drones are stored on-site and can reach any point on campus in as little as 15 seconds, buying critical time for first responders and potentially saving lives. 

“There is no more important mission than the safety and security of our schools, and the Volusia Sheriff’s Office and Volusia County Schools are eager to work with the state of Florida and Campus Guardian Angel to lead the charge in exploring new tools to protect our students, faculty, and staff,” Sheriff Mike Chitwood said. 

The pilot program will begin implementation in early 2026, with Campus Guardian Angel working closely with Volusia County Schools and local law enforcement to integrate the system into existing safety protocols. The results of this pilot will help determine whether the technology is expanded statewide. 

To learn more about Campus Guardian Angel, visit www.campusguardianangel.com.