Local state lawmakers and area superintendents are at odds over a bill that would authorize school boards to allow certain school employees to have firearms on school property.
The state Senate Education Committee on Wednesday approved Bill 383, which now goes for a vote in the full Senate.
“The idea of an armed assailant invading a school was, at one time, unimaginable,” state Rep. Martin Causer, R-Turtlepoint, said. “Sadly, times have changed, and we need to give our school districts more options to keep our children safe.”
Under the proposed bill, school boards that establish a firearm policy would require an individual at minimum to have a license to carry a concealed firearm and maintain a current certification in the use and handling of a firearm.
However, Dr. Brian Toth, St. Marys Area School District superintendent, disagrees with the bill.
“For the safety of all in our schools, only trained security officers/school police/staff member (in the absence of a security officer) should carry firearms,” he said. “There is no need for further discussion. Once again, the elected officials are overstepping their bounds. They should focus on passing a state budget and ways to raise state revenues.”
Katy Pude, superintendent of Bradford Area School District, did not return an email seeking comment on the legislation.
For his part, Causer said he backs the bill since the proposal is a viable choice for many school districts, particularly in rural areas where law enforcement may be too far away to respond in a timely manner to an active-shooter situation.
“While we hope nothing like this would ever happen in our schools, the threat is real, and our schools need to be able to take the steps they deem necessary to protect our students,” Causer said.
Otto-Eldred School District Superintendent Matthew Splain said he is hoping that the bill is not put on the fast track to approval. Normally, school officials are notified of such a bill, but Wednesday was the first he heard of the legislation, he said.
“I understand the argument for allowing school personnel to have access to firearms,” he said. “Any consideration of this bill needs additional input from the constituents of Pennsylvania. There are numerous considerations to debate regarding what may be allowed. Positions of school boards, school employees, parents and community members should be heard by Harrisburg before any further vote is taken.”
As lawmakers look for ways to make schools safer, Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati, R-Brockway, said school employees ought to have more options rather than just locking a door to protect students.
“It is also important to point out that Senate Bill 383 does not mandate this option, but provides local control to decide if school employees will be permitted to carry firearms on school property,” he said.
Even so, Galeton Area School District Superintendent Alanna Huck said it’s much too soon to talk about the bill.
“Much more info needs to be produced by the state regarding how these measures would be implemented before I am comfortable with taking a position on the matter,” Huck said.
