Schools

Guns on School Grounds Continues to be Hot Topic

The Council Rock School Board is at odds regarding an amendment to district policy that would restrict guns at the Chancellor Center.

The Council Rock School Board continues to be at odds about the issue of guns and their appropriateness on district-owned property. The topic again dominated the Council Rock School Board meeting, the latest of which was Thursday.

The discussion was a continuation from the last board meeting, in which some board members strongly urged clarifying district policy to restrict guns at the Chancellor Center. 

In the end, the board decided not to take action to amend district policy because of the possibility of infringing on the public’s second amendment right to bear arms.

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State law already prohibits guns at district schools. However, some board members said they felt it should be clear that firearms are also not permitted at the Chancellor Center, a district-owned property where the board meetings are held. 

Superintendent Mark Klein, who is also an attorney, said while he respects and understands the law, “it would be my preference not to have guns on any school grounds.”

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At a board meeting earlier this month, member Bernadette Heenan said she “felt unsafe” at the meetings due to the prospect that someone may possess a weapon. She asked that the board meetings be transferred to a school building so as to ensure no firearms would be present, a request she reiterated Thursday.

Board member Wendi Thomas said she feels safe at board meetings and questioned the amount of time and attention the subject matter was receiving.  She said the state law as it stands is clear. “This building is an administrative building and should be subject to the rules.”

Solicitor Robert Cox said adding further language to restrict guns at the Chancellor Center may “create a greater exposure to the district” and subject it to a legal challenge. However, he noted, generally a legal challenge would come after someone is arrested. “The mere fact you are passing this in most cases wouldn’t be enough to challenge,” Cox said.

Board member Paul Anagnostakos said he was against pursuing the issue any further. “You’re getting a big fat no from me,” he said, adding that the measure was redundant. 

Board president Kyle McKessy asked Cox to review the comments provided at Thursday's meeting and present the board with his advice at the next meeting.


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