River View approves concealed weapons

WARSAW - The River View Local Schools Board of Education has approved allowing select employees to carry concealed guns on school property and at school events to protect against armed attacks.

Coshocton City Schools is expected to follow suit next month and already has begun the process to allow the practice.

"It's a necessary reality that I think you're going to see is growing throughout the state," River View Superintendent Dalton Summers said.

River View board members took that action via a 4-0 vote in special session Tuesday morning, Summers said.

"What we've accomplished with this is we've added one layer of safety and security that we didn't have in the district," he said. "Our greatest hope is that this gets the word out that a line of defense is there in the school district. We're not a completely unprotected district."

The board also approved changing policies to allow employees or members of the public to carry concealed weapons on school grounds, but only with approval by the board; buying liability insurance; and altering the district's safety plan to include the changes and guidelines.

Summers said he plans to take all of those actions to the district's attorney this week to make sure "all the i's are dotted and t's crossed" before implementing the new plan as early as next week.

Summers stressed the new security measures exist solely to respond to an active shooter and "no other scenario."

All employees involved underwent special training with the Coshocton County Sheriff's Office as well as regular classes required to carry a concealed weapon, Summers said. The identities of the armed employees will remain confidential, and they will be named only in the district's safety plan to be filed with local and state law enforcement personnel. The plans are not accessible by the public.

Summers will not say how many employees volunteered to participate, but he said every building will be protected. Employees bought their own weapons.

Coshocton City Schools is reshaping its policies and procedures to allow its approved employees to carry concealed guns on district property or during school events. The panel approved a resolution granting the board authority earlier this month and is expected to change its policies as early as its next regular meeting, scheduled for Nov. 10, according to Dr. David Hire, Coshocton's superintendent.

The Coshocton County Career Center's board is expected to consider action within the next couple of months.

Employees from those two districts also have undergone advanced training by the Sheriff's Office.

The Ridgewood Local School District has opted not to arm its employees.

jwilliams6@gannett.com

740-295-3417

Twitter: @JoeTribune