JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Whether it’s directing traffic outside of schools or addressing school threats, Sheriff T.K. Waters says safety is their priority when working with Duval County Public Schools by having officers accessible in each school zone.

Throughout the morning and afternoon, patrol cars were present at every school in the district.

Officers’ biggest job was containing drop-off lines, especially when those cars waiting found themselves in the roadway. 

As getting through traffic may seem a little longer during this first week of school, Waters agrees that drivers should be this cautious around school buses and zones all year round.

“Sometimes you might be in more of a hurry than normal, but you can’t change your driving patterns,” Waters told First Coast News. “Especially when you’re getting around schools. So just remember to stay focused. Sometimes those school zones will come up on you pretty quick, and you’re not paying attention to it and they’re going to be officers out there enforcing traffic complaints.”

Duval County Public School District Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier is reminding drivers in school zones to be cautious of students crossing throughout the school year. The district is also prioritizing safety inside the building. 

“Students need to be well fed, and they need to feel safe,” Bernier told First Coast News. “If they don’t have those things, then they aren’t able to learn. Also, our teachers need to feel safe in their work environments as well. So we really treat safety from the time a student leaves the doorway of their home to their school and back again.”

Some of the safety precautions Bernier has made mandatory inside all DCPS schools include keeping the classroom doors locked at all times and not allowing propped doors in case of an intruder situation.