Pittsburg Public Schools approve teachers carrying handguns
PITTSBURG OK Oct 26 2018 — New signs across campus of a Pittsburg County school warn about the potential of teachers carrying handguns.
The Pittsburg Public Schools Board of Education recently voted to approve a policy for teachers carrying handguns on school property and put up signs this week notifying people of the changes.
Superintendent Chad Graham said the board approved four school employees to carry weapons after they completed CLEET-certification.
“We want to make sure that our staff are trained correctly,” Graham said. “I think we’re about as prepared as we can be and I think it’s going to be great for our school.”
Board members voted Oct. 3 to approve the policy, which states individuals authorized by the board to carry handguns on school premises must:
“1. Posses a valid armed security guard license as provided for in Section 1750.1 et seq. of Title 59 of Oklahoma Statutes; or 2. Hold a valid reserve peace officer certification as provided for in Section 3311 of Title 70 of of Oklahoma Statutes.”
Graham said the school has received an “overwhelmingly positive reaction” from the community since passing the policy.
He said school officials discussed for years how to improve campus security — a process expedited after the February school shootings in Florida that left 17 dead.
“That was one that got us talking and kind of accelerated the process and we’ve had several since then,” Graham said. “We just felt like this is actually something we’ve talked about and if something ever did happen, we want to be as prepared as possible.
Pittsburg’s school board will “determine and designate school employees” authorized to gain certification and carry handguns on the premises, according to the policy.
The policy states that certification will not be a requirement for employment — just for authorization to carry on campus.
Pittsburg schools will pay necessary training, meal, and lodging expenses associated with the training required, the policy states.
The policy states the authorized employees “shall only use a handgun and ammunition that have been approved by or issued by the school district board of education.”
Handguns will be carried in an approved holster or locked in a secured location while the employee is on school property, the policy states.
Authorized employees will be responsible for maintaining the handguns, according to the policy.
The policy states any time a firearm is pointed at someone or discharged, the employee involved shall write a report within 24 hours to document the incident and must report the incident to law enforcement.
Graham said the school will have four road signs notifying others of the policy and 15 window stickers doing the same across campus.
McAlester News
