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School board pauses votes on weapons policies after members voice safety, flexibility concerns
Summary
Board members discussed VSBA policy updates and pulled two weapons‑related policies (GBEB, JFCD) for attorney review after debate over whether trained staff could be authorized to carry firearms; the board approved other policy updates unanimously with the two policies withheld.
The Buckingham County School Board reviewed second‑reading policy updates from the Virginia School Boards Association and paused final action on two weapons‑related provisions after members raised concerns about unintended restrictions.
During discussion, some members said they did not want the board to adopt language that would prevent the superintendent or the board from designating properly trained staff to carry firearms in school buildings if the division lacked immediate armed law enforcement. "The problem is if we don't have weapons, only the bad guys have weapons," a board member (S5) said during the discussion, urging flexibility for trained employees. Other members asked staff to consult the board attorney about the scope of state law and exemptions referenced in the statute (Va. Code §18.2‑308.1 was cited in the discussion).
After discussion, a motion to adopt the VSBA updates with the weapons‑related policies (GBEB and JFCD/JFCA) removed for legal clarification passed unanimously. Board members said they prefer to have attorney guidance on qualifications, exemptions, and how any local rule would align with state law before adopting final language.
