SPRINGBORO -- The Springboro school board moves one step closer to considering the possibility of arming teachers in schools.
Both the board and the community are basically split down the middle on the issue. The entire reason the board even wants to talk about the possibility of allowing teachers to carry guns, is because some people are worried an incident like the Newtown school massacre could happen here.
"They had an emergency plan probably a lot like our emergency plan and it didn't work," said school board member, Jim Rigano.
In front of a packs house, the board decided to have a separate board committee continue discussion on the guns in schools debate. Rigano is spearheading the talks.
"The sign on the windows that say guns not allowed are turning out to be an invitation to an assassin," he said.
"I don't think everyone needs to have a gun, but if a few people did than I wouldn't be afraid of that. It would be like having a security guard like some of the inner cities do," Springboro mom, Nancy Jo Austin said.
Under Ohio Revised Code, school boards can authorize, on an individual basis, educators to carry guns in school. Supporters believe it would act as a deterrent to future school shooting suspects. But there are many people who believe allowing firearms in the classroom, is a recipe for disaster.
"We want to make sure we are providing the safest environment for our children but I don't know if going from zero to 100 and saying it needs to be a gun is the answer. Maybe there needs to be other things that need to be looked at prior to doing that,"said board member, Don Miller.
"I have no intent to arm our teachers by any means. The school board is considering options, but there is no intent to bring guns into our schools," Superintendent Todd Petrey said.
Rigano says he believes in addition to having a CCW, teachers packing heat would also need to go through additional training, like the special classes being offered by the Buckeye Firearms Association.
Both the board and the community are basically split down the middle on the issue. The entire reason the board even wants to talk about the possibility of allowing teachers to carry guns, is because some people are worried an incident like the Newtown school massacre could happen here.
"They had an emergency plan probably a lot like our emergency plan and it didn't work," said school board member, Jim Rigano.
In front of a packs house, the board decided to have a separate board committee continue discussion on the guns in schools debate. Rigano is spearheading the talks.
"The sign on the windows that say guns not allowed are turning out to be an invitation to an assassin," he said.
"I don't think everyone needs to have a gun, but if a few people did than I wouldn't be afraid of that. It would be like having a security guard like some of the inner cities do," Springboro mom, Nancy Jo Austin said.
Under Ohio Revised Code, school boards can authorize, on an individual basis, educators to carry guns in school. Supporters believe it would act as a deterrent to future school shooting suspects. But there are many people who believe allowing firearms in the classroom, is a recipe for disaster.
"We want to make sure we are providing the safest environment for our children but I don't know if going from zero to 100 and saying it needs to be a gun is the answer. Maybe there needs to be other things that need to be looked at prior to doing that,"said board member, Don Miller.
"I have no intent to arm our teachers by any means. The school board is considering options, but there is no intent to bring guns into our schools," Superintendent Todd Petrey said.
Rigano says he believes in addition to having a CCW, teachers packing heat would also need to go through additional training, like the special classes being offered by the Buckeye Firearms Association.