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GRANGEVILLE, Idaho (AP) — The Mountain View School District is considering allowing school personnel to carry weapons on its campuses.
The district, which encompasses six schools in Grangeville, Kooskia and Elk City, is considering a policy that would allow faculty to choose to carry weapons concealed or to keep them locked in a locker, The Lewiston Tribune reported (http://bit.ly/2hPVouJ). Board members discussed the proposal on Monday.
District Board Chairman Mike Dominquez said one reason to allow armed faculty is that the district cannot afford school resource officers at all six schools. Staffing the schools with resource officers is expected to cost about $300,000 a year.
The proposed policy would clarify circumstances under which a weapon could be used in the case of an emergency.
"They're not going to use it because some student got out of hand," Dominguez said.
The Idaho County Sheriff's Office would provide firearms training and determine which staff members met qualifications that would allow a firearm to be carried on school grounds.
Board members said that if a firearms policy is adopted and a security protocol is developed to determine who is carrying weapons, the public would not be informed about the details in order to protect students and staff.
Board member Jeremy Harris of Grangeville said he wouldn't support the proposal if it goes to a vote.
"I still have a lot of reservations on our policy," Harris said. "I just simply don't agree with it."
Garden Valley School District is the only one in Idaho that has formally adopted such a policy. Other districts such as Salmon River, Cottonwood and Kamiah are considering similar policies.
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Information from: Lewiston Tribune, http://www.lmtribune.com
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