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Board debates approach after state law allows employees and volunteers to carry concealed weapons with local rules
Summary
Trustees discussed a recent state law that permits school districts to adopt rules for employees and volunteers to lawfully carry concealed firearms; board members differed on whether to act now or wait for model policies and legal guidance.
Board members spent significant time discussing a recent state legislative change that the board member reading the statute described as allowing districts to adopt rules to govern employees and volunteers lawfully carrying concealed weapons on school property.
A board member read provisions of the statute aloud at the meeting and summarized key elements: the board "may adopt rules and regulations" governing employees and volunteers who lawfully carry concealed weapons; any local rules would apply only to employees or volunteers; rules may require ongoing training (an initial course with live‑fire and scenario training, and annual qualifications), but the board may also waive training requirements. The reading noted the statute’s specific language on training hours, which some trustees discussed at length.
Nut graf: Trustees did not adopt a policy at the meeting. Instead the board agreed to take a cautious approach — soliciting legal guidance and model policies and giving staff time to study options — while several trustees urged that if the board moves forward it do so carefully and with substantial training options for staff who might carry.
Comments from trustees expressed differing views. One trustee said the board’s "best move would be to do nothing" for now; others said they would prefer to encourage training for any staff who carry and to consult the district attorney and statewide associations for model policies. Several board members raised questions about substitutes, volunteers, how the district would verify training and whether staff should be the only people permitted to carry.
Board members asked the superintendent and legal counsel to gather additional guidance and to return with models and options. Trustees noted at least six districts in the state that had existing rules for staff carry and said many of those districts may need to revise their rules following the new state language.
Ending: No policy was adopted; trustees asked administration and legal counsel to return with more information and suggested the board will consider a deliberate, deliberative process before any local rules are adopted.
