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Board debates concealed-carry policy vs. procedure, seeks insurer and legal guidance
Summary
Board members discussed crafting a policy or procedure to address staff concealed carry on campus, requested insurance company and legal counsel input, and heard proposals for less-lethal options; no policy was adopted.
Weston County School Board members discussed whether to adopt a formal policy or an internal procedure to govern staff who choose to carry firearms on campus and how to secure liability coverage. The board did not adopt a policy and directed staff to consult the district's insurer and legal counsel about what documentation and coverage would be required.
Board members said the district's liability insurance currently does not cover accidental or intentional discharge without a specific rider and that the district needs clarity from the insurer about what information (name, permit number, position) an insurer would require to underwrite coverage. One board member urged asking whether a procedure (kept in staff guidelines) could accomplish the same insurance and operational objectives as a formal policy.
Tyler, a board member, said he has reservations about creating policy without knowing precisely what the insurance rider would cover. "Does it cover accidental discharge? Does it cover purposeful discharge? What is it not going to cover?" he asked.
Another board member advocated for investigating "less-than-lethal" response tools (described in the meeting as commercially available launchers and pepper-ball systems) and asked staff to query insurers about those devices as well. The board directed finance/administrative staff to request specific information from the insurer and to consult district legal counsel on whether a procedure would meet the district's needs.
Ending
No final policy was adopted. The board asked staff to report back with the insurer's requirements, sample rider language and legal advice on whether a procedure could meet liability and operational needs before bringing a draft policy/procedure back for adoption.
