EPCS superintendent responds to 'armed staff' buzz

The EPCS board met Monday evening (June 9) and reviewed the issue. Discussion centered on who can carry firearms, policies from other schools, insurance costs, and surveying the school-community.

Earlier this spring, Gov. Mike Pence signed a bill into law allowing guns to be locked in cars on school property, as long as they are hidden and in the parking lot. The bill generated debate during the 2014 Indiana General Assembly session, with several groups, including the Indiana State Teachers Association, opposing the measure.

POSSESSING FIREARMS ON SCHOOL PROPERTY

Indiana School Board Association (Sample Policy)

This policy applies to persons who may legally possess a firearm under Indiana law.

A firearm under this policy is any weapon that is capable of expelling, designed to expel, or may readily be converted to expel a projectile by means of an explosion and includes ammunition.

[A school board may choose one or more of the following provisions]

*No school employee may possess a firearm in a school building or on school property while on duty as a school employee unless the firearm is locked in the trunk of the employee’s vehicle, kept in the glove compartment of the employee’s locked vehicle or stored out of plain sight in the employee’s locked vehicle.

*An employee who holds one of the following positions is authorized to carry a firearm in or on school property while carrying out their duties as an employee:

{List here the positions, i.e. security guards, principals, etc.}

*An employee who holds one of the following positions is authorized to carry a firearm in or on school property:

{List here the positions, i.e. security guards, principals, etc.}

*A school board member may carry a firearm at a school board meeting, in or on school property, or at a school sponsored event.

*No person, including school board members, may intentionally or openly display a firearm at any public meeting of the school board.

LEGAL REFERENCE: I.C. 35-47-9-1

I.C. 35-47-11.1-4(6) [Applies only if public meeting prohibition is used.]

I.C. 34-28-7-2

In response to Thursday evening's WSBT report, Superintendent Dan Foster explained in an interview with PulaskiPost.com that the board reviewed a document provided by the Indiana School Board Association (see box at right) as a sample policy to consider.

In reference to the ISBA sample policy, Foster said there was some discussion, pro and con, about designating a staff member or members to possess a firearm in a school building.

But he emphasized, "there has NOT been a proposal of any kind either direction at this time.

"We are giving due diligence to discussing this new law," he added.

Foster admitted to being somewhat bemused when he received the telephone call from the television station Thursday afternoon.

"'You've got to be kidding' was my first thought," he said "We're not the only school reviewing this policy."

Earlier this month, the West Central School Board also discussed the matter.

The new Indiana law, known as Senate Bill 229, regarding this issue takes effect July 1.

Senate Bill 229 – passed earlier this year – allows individuals to have guns on school property if they are hidden in a locked vehicle. If a gun is found in plain sight, the individual will be charged with a misdemeanor.

An article on this law appears under "Indiana News" on this website. (Read Senate Bill 229 here .)

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Earlier this week, USA Today and a blog in the Washington Post picked up a story published in the Indianapolis Star Monday (June 9) regarding the purchase of surplus military equipment by Indiana police departments, including the Pulaski County Sheriff's Department. That was the first story to create some local sensation during the week.