The Watertown City School District Board of Education approved employment agreements and authorizations allowing named school safety officers (SSOs) to carry firearms on district property while performing their duties and approved expanding SSO coverage for the coming year.

The board moved and approved a resolution that authorizes the district to enter into employment agreements with the listed school safety officers and explicitly permits those employees to possess and carry firearms on district property while working in their official capacity. The board’s resolution notes that New York Penal Law restricts firearm possession on school property except where written authorization is granted by the district; the board’s action adopts that authorization for the named employees for the duration of their employment.

District officials told the board this action follows an earlier public hearing (Oct. 17, 2023) that addressed firearm possession by school safety officers. Superintendent Larry Schmeichel said the program began as a pilot two years ago and has expanded: “Two years ago, we started by piloting an SSO at Wiley. It was a huge success. … For next year, this resolution … adds an additional SSO. So where two years ago we had two SROs, next year we will have four SSOs and one SRO,” he said during the meeting.

The superintendent also described related safety investments, including weapons‑detection devices and handheld radio infrastructure. District staff said two of the SSO positions were proposed as 12‑month positions to allow coverage of summer programming; others will be maintained at 11 months as needed.

Ending: The authorization takes effect immediately; the board reserved the right to revoke authorizations at any time.