Jay County School District Advocates Arming Some School Officials
A superintendent in Jay County says he thinks Hoosier schools should be able to use state dollars to give some school employees access to guns. Indiana Public Broadcasting’s Barbara Brosher reports.
The Jay School Corporation’s board approved a lengthy security policy earlier this month that includes putting bullet-resistant film on windows and establishing single entry points at all schools.
But the most controversial aspect of the plan involves giving employees who volunteer access to a gun safe with firearms in the event of a shooting.
Superintendent Jeremy Gulley says the total cost of implementing those changes is unclear, but he thinks state dollars should be made available.
“As far as the ability to provide the on-site armed capacity, that’s going to take training dollars and equipping dollars. So right now, the current school security grants available to school districts in the state don’t make provisions to do that.”
Legislators approved a bill last week that provides an additional $5 million in funding for school safety grants, which can be used to help pay for a school resource officer, threat assessment, or safety equipment.
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Jay School Corporation is the second in the state to adopt such a policy. In 2014, the North White School Corporation began allowing administrators and school board members the option to carry a concealed semi-automatic weapon.
