ASSOCIATED PRESS
GILLETTE,
Wyo. – Officials in a Wyoming school district have held the first of
three public meetings about a proposal to arm educators at six rural campuses.
The
regulations would allow educators to conceal carry handguns at Recluse, Little
Powder, 4J, Rozet, Rawhide and Conestoga elementary schools, the “Gillette News
Record” reported Feb. 5.
The Campbell
County School District held the meeting Feb. 4 and included a 30-minute public
comment session.
“This is
intended for the very worst moment that could ever happen in a school
district,” district Human Resources Manager Larry Reznicek said in response to
a question about how the district would prepare educators. “It’s not about
shooting a firearm. It’s about preparing yourself mentally and not backing away
from danger, going to the danger and mitigating it quickly.”
Educators
would be given de-escalation and verbal-control techniques and must take
psychological evaluations, the same as law enforcement, designed to discover
participant tendencies, officials said.
The district
is expected to pay for ammunition, lock boxes, evaluations, drug and alcohol
tests and 56 hours of training. It would not pay for firearms and holsters. An
estimated cost has not yet been provided. Based on police information,
evaluations would cost about $500 each, the drug and alcohol tests would cost
up to $100 and background checks would cost up to $75, Reznicek said.
