Sheridan County School District #2 board opens process to draft concealed‑carry policy for staff and volunteers

The Sheridan County School District #2 Board of Trustees voted May 12 to begin the formal process of drafting a local policy on concealed firearms for district employees and volunteers after the Wyoming Legislature repealed the state's gun‑free school zones.

Superintendent Scott Stoltz told the board the law change, effective July 1, allows anyone age 21 or older with a concealed‑carry permit to bring a concealed firearm into school facilities and that a local policy could set higher requirements for staff and volunteers. "This would specifically state that there would be 16 hours of live training. There would be 8 hours of scenario training, and that the weapon would need to be on your person at all times or under your control in a box, biometrical box or a box of some type," Stoltz said. He added the statute would still allow the district to require annual refresher training and proof of training from employees or volunteers.

Board members split over whether to pursue a district policy. Trustee Moore said he was "not in favor of developing a policy" at this time because legal and liability questions remained and staff and community feedback were limited. Trustee Perkins and other trustees argued that initiating the policy process would allow the district to gather legal guidance and public and staff input before making a final decision.

The board approved a motion to begin the policy adoption process, which will include public and advisory committee meetings, a first reading in June and a second reading in July if the committee moves the draft forward. Superintendent Stoltz said the district plans a public roundtable on the issue and will seek more legal and staff guidance before the board votes on any finished policy.

What the board approved is the initiation of a process to draft policy; it did not adopt specific training, storage, or cost provisions. Trustee Ramberg announced a "no" vote on the motion, saying he would not support local restrictions because of his view of Second Amendment rights; other trustees publicly reserved judgment until the draft policy and outside legal advice were available.

The board asked staff to schedule community and staff engagement events and to seek legal counsel and insurer input about potential liability and implementation details before the next policy committee meeting.

The district summarized key statutory context for trustees at the meeting: House Bill 172 repealed the state's gun‑free school zone restrictions; the bill text also includes language allowing trustees to adopt training and other minimum standards for employees and volunteers if the board chooses to do so.