WHEREAS, __ School District is dedicated to the principle that schools are a safe space dedicated to the education, development and growth of its students, and
WHEREAS, protecting student safety in the classrooms is among a school district’s highest responsibilities; and
WHEREAS, research shows that school shooters often have a connection to the school, and three-quarters of school shooters under 18 obtained their guns from home, a relative’s home or from friends; and
WHEREAS, in 100% of incidents of targeted school violence, the attacker showed concerning behaviors prior to the attack, and 77% of the time, at least one person knew about their plan; and
WHEREAS, there are proven effective statutory approaches to keep guns out of the hands of those who would commit an act of school gun violence and evidence-based, expert-endorsed actions schools can take to intervene and protect against school shootings; and
WHEREAS, it is critically important to monitor and evaluate how school safety policies are impacting school discipline practices, students of color, and students with disabilities; and
WHEREAS, [STATE] is doing X, Y, and Z – [email students@everytown.org for state specific information on arming teachers]; and
WHEREAS, arming teachers or staff is not an effective school safety strategy, has no evidence of success, and creates new risks to both students and teachers.
WHEREAS, the presence of undertrained or improperly trained persons armed with firearms in our schools would create a dangerous environment, and threaten the lives and safety of students and staff; and
WHEREAS, access to a firearm, irrespective of age, triples the risk of death by suicide and doubles the risk of death by homicide.
WHEREAS, teachers and other school employees in our schools, who educate, mentor, support and nurture their students should not be asked to arm themselves with deadly weapons in a misguided attempt to make their students safer; now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the _ School District does hereby declare and affirm that it will not, under any circumstances authorize any of its teachers or other employees, who are not school safety and security officers, to convey or possess any deadly weapons, including firearms in any of its school buildings or on any school property under the Board’s control pursuant to [STATE Specific Information] contact students@everytown.org for your state’s specific information; and be it further
RESOLVED, the Board deems it is more effective to take the following steps to keep our schools and students safe from gun violence, establishing threat assessment programs and stepping in to provide necessary services and prevent access to firearms when a student is at risk, implement basic security upgrades to prevent unauthorized access to schools and classrooms, advance planning so staff can immediately lockdown schools and law enforcement can respond quickly in the event of any emergency, establish safe and equitable schools, including best practices to build relationships with the surrounding community and provide students and their families with the resources and support they need to thrive; and be it further
RESOLVED, that the Board hereby authorizes and directs the Superintendent and/or designees to take any appropriate and necessary action to implement and enforce this Resolution.
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