Carlynton board approves arming district school police officer amid public concern

The Carlynton School District Board of Directors voted Feb. 18 to permit a district‑employed school police officer (SPO) to carry a firearm while on duty, contingent on any required court authorization and compliance with district policy and state requirements.

The motion, introduced during the superintendent’s report and debated after public comment, passed after chairing remarks and a call for the ayes and nays. Chair (speaker 1) announced, "All those in favor say aye." After the verbal vote, the chair stated the motion carries.

Why it matters: The decision changes how the district plans to staff safety roles across its buildings and sparked strong, repeated public comment at the meeting. Parents and students urged the board to prioritize non‑weapon preventive measures and to require implicit‑bias and de‑escalation training for any officer who would be armed.

At the public microphone, Britney Dova, a Carnegie parent, said…