Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sheridan County School District #2 adopts concealed‑carry rule for volunteers and staff with lock‑box exception
Summary
The board approved Policy CKA on second reading, requiring staff/volunteers who wish to carry concealed firearms to meet training and qualification standards and be responsible for associated costs — except for district‑owned lock boxes. The rule adds confidentiality and indemnification language and clarifies carrying is voluntary.
The Sheridan County School District #2 Board of Trustees approved a revised Policy CKA on second reading after an amendment exempting district‑owned lock boxes from employee cost requirements.
Superintendent Stolz walked trustees through edits proposed by the policy advisory council and the board policy committee, saying the policy now explicitly states that "carrying a concealed weapon under this policy is entirely voluntary" and includes a definition of "direct control," clarifications about permitted possession, training qualifications, confidentiality provisions and language preserving sovereign immunity under the Wyoming Governmental Claims Act.
During discussion Trustee Doug Moore urged a narrow amendment to avoid the logistical problem of staff buying and then removing lock boxes when they leave district service. He proposed adding language to the paragraph about training and "associated costs" to read "except for lock boxes, except to the extent such costs are fully reimbursable from the State of Wyoming." The amendment was seconded and approved by the board.
District staff and trustees also discussed state reimbursement. District finance staff and the superintendent said the Wyoming Legislature set aside $480,000 for district reimbursement, described as an initial pool generated by a $10,000×48 calculation; allocations will be made on a first‑come, first‑served basis and prorated if requests exceed the pool. Staff cautioned that districts would only be eligible for reimbursement after a rule is in place and that the next reimbursement cycle may fall in the 2025–26 window.
After debate the board voted to adopt Policy CKA on second reading as amended. The motion was approved by voice vote.
The adopted policy assigns responsibility for training and equipment costs to employees/volunteers who choose to carry, except for district‑owned lock boxes; it requires preapproval of outside training by the superintendent and includes a provision allowing the superintendent to provide identities of permitted employees/volunteers to law enforcement. The policy also states nothing in it will be treated as a waiver of governmental immunity.
The board said it will return to any procedural or implementation questions as staff finalize rule language and reimbursement guidance from the Wyoming Department of Education.
