Alpine School District has a full force of armed School Guardians–employees who are trained and ready to prevent or abate an active threat–in all of our 90 schools.
Utah’s HB 84, passed in 2024, requires each school district to oversee a guardian program that ensures the presence of armed and trained staff in every school.
“A Guardian is an armed employee who is ready to engage an active threat to students until law enforcement arrives on the scene,” said Joe Hayes, Director of Safety and Operations at Alpine School District.
Alpine has around 220 Guardians in its program. They recently completed bi-annual training, one of the requirements of HB 84.
The comprehensive training was designed to simulate potential active threat situations, ensuring every school in Alpine has a designated, well-prepared guardian in place and ready to act.
“Having trained Guardians at each school adds an important layer to our overall safety program,” said Hayes.
Training for Guardians is designed to replicate the intense conditions of a real emergency.
“These drills mimic the adrenaline, noise, chaos and uncertainty a guardian may experience, which can help them learn to function under stress and be less likely to freeze, said Sgt. Dave Sorenson, Utah County School Security Chief and a deputy with Utah County Sheriff’s Office.
Other objectives include decision-making under pressure, confidence and competence with firearms, and teamwork and communication.
“It was helpful to practice the scenarios when there were law enforcement officers there to coach and debrief afterward,” said one elementary school Guardian. “It made me feel more comfortable and confident in my role as a Guardian.”
School districts protect the identity of Guardians for their protection and to maintain a level of deterrence, as required by state law.
“Having trained and armed guardians is a deterrent to potential offenders, showing them that the school takes safety seriously, which makes it less attractive as a target,” said Sorenson.
He added that this training creates more confident staff with heightened situational awareness, offering students, staff, and parents peace of mind and contributing to a safer learning environment.
The elementary school Guardian agrees.
“Being a Guardian allows me to look at school safety differently. It heightens my situational awareness so I can see our school environment through a different lens to implement small changes to help protect all students and staff.”
This commitment to rigorous preparation underscores Alpine School District's culture of excellence, training its people to implement laws and policies to the highest degree of fidelity.
“We are committed to ensuring the safety of students and staff,” Hayes said. “We are grateful for our guardian volunteers and to our law enforcement partners for providing the training and support to keep our schools safe.”