Ohio school district to allow teachers to carry guns. Should Orange County follow?

As students gear up for the new school year, many will experience back-to-school jitters stemming from common academic and social transitions. But thanks to the shocking influx of national and local school violence, parents are likely to experience genuine fear in regards to their child’s safety.

The nation was stunned when a sole gunman killed 20 elementary school students and 6 adult faculty members at Sandy Hook Elementary on December 14, 2012. Our whole country questioned how this could happen to innocent children and educators in a small town on what should have been a typical school day. As a result, Orlando families and district officials found themselves pondering potential threats, safety measures, and area response plans.

At least four incidents involving weapons on Orange County Public School grounds were reported to the media in the later part of the 2012-2013 school year, including: Glenridge Middle School going on lockdown following the discovery of a loaded .22-caliber magazine in the garbage and communication about a planned shooting, the arrest of a 12-year-old Glenridge student who was found carrying two guns in his backpack, the arrest of a Lee Middle School student who had a loaded gun in his waistband, and the arrest of a Colonial High student who was in possession of a firearm.

In an interview with Orlando Family Magazine, Michael Eugene, Chief Operations Officer for Orange County Public Schools (OCPS), shared that the recent implementation of randomized metal detector screenings is, in fact, a response to both national and local happenings. He describes the tactic as “one tool in a tool box that is needed for us (OCPS) at this time,” and will continue throughout and beyond the upcoming school year. Thus far, 2 middle schools and 1 high school have held screenings, with onsite supervision of the sheriff’s office. Eugene declined to offer details about which schools (though one might assume the 3 ‘incident’ locations listed above), scheduled frequency, or future locations, but hopes that the randomized structure will dissuade individuals from bringing weapons onto school grounds.

Eugene says that the district notified parents that OCPS “would be running a weapon screening program, and every middle and high school posted (informative) signs at the entry and exits.” Though he also stayed mum about whether weapons were found during previous screenings, a weapon violation would be viewed as a level 4 offense, as stated in the OCPS student code of conduct, and thus, potentially result in expulsion and criminal charges as deemed by law enforcement. In regards to traditional school patrol, he states, “We have law enforcement presence in every school and that presence varies pending on school type and size.”

Eugene says that OCPS followed the same model as the Sandy Hook Governors Commission and, following the massacre, partnered with local and state law enforcement and security experts to analyze existing policies and procedures. Though video surveillance is used throughout the district to some capacity, OCPS will follow the recommendation to enhance building “safety and security to prevent possible intrusion. So, the board has approved more than $5 million for such improvements over the next year.” While Eugene notes that, “Public education is a welcoming place, and we have to keep it that way;” he shares that some of the ‘capital investments’ (funds) will impact the architecture for physical structures, technology to manage visitors, and administration/facility training, among other plans.

“Students do safety drills, but we have elected to not do more of the theatrical drills that have taken place across the country. We don’t think that is a psychologically healthy environment where students are playing the role of a victim, who had been shot or otherwise harmed; but we do and will continue to increase the drills with students so they understand that if a lockdown procedure is necessary, which is already part of our plan, they know precisely what to do, where to go, and how to follow the direction of the teacher,” said Eugene.

According to TimesReporter.com, an Ohio news source, a school district south of Cleveland approved “certain persons designated by the board and superintendent to convey deadly weapons…in a school safety zone of the Newcomerstown Exempted Village School District.” Such weapons policies are, according to Eugene, “not seen to be a favorable thing by our board. We would like to decrease the number of weapons in schools and make sure only those that are highly trained, with a law enforcement badge, have a weapon.”

At the very least, parents can impact the number of weapons brought on campus by properly storing firearms, such as locking guns and ammunition in separate locations. Florida Statute 790.14 requires a loaded firearm in the home to be stored in a locked box container or secured with a trigger lock if the owner reasonably knows that a child under the age 16 can gain access to the firearm.

Osceola and Seminole County School Districts were not contacted for this article; however, insight via comments is welcomed and appreciated. 

PARENT POLLS

 Loading ...

 Loading ...