The Keller ISD school district in Texas on Monday approved changes to its safety policy that allow teachers and other facility employees to carry guns. The constituency consists of 42 educational centers. This action was taken in response to the May 24 massacre at Robb Elementary School in the US city of Uvalde that killed 19 students and two teachers, Fox News reports.
The Keller ISD Board of Education passed four votes in favor and three against the new policy developed under the Texas School Guardians program, allowing school educators to carry guns within educational facilities in order to to defend the students. Teachers and other staff in the face of shootings.
Under the regulation, teachers and other school district personnel may voluntarily carry firearms on school unit premises after completing firearms-handling training and meeting other requirements.
On the other hand, parents, teachers and other educational staff have spoken out against this measure. During last Monday’s school assembly, parents argued that this could pose a threat to their children’s lives.
To gauge the reaction of the entire school community to the new safety measure, a survey was sent out to 35,000 people in the school district before the vote, according to the outlet. However, only 9% responded and the majority said they were against.
Despite this, Charles Randklev, President of the School Board, assures that the measure will be an important defense mechanism against any attack that endangers the life of the school community. “The Guardian program is designed to help students and staff in the event of an active shooter before police arrive,” he reiterated.
According to the outlet, while the regulations have been approved, they will be drafted in January or February 2023.