SCHOOL WEAPONS POLICY PROTEST
New policy comes under fire
SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. >> Hundreds of angry residents turned out Tuesday to protest Saratoga Springs City Schools’ board decision to disarm building security personnel.
Students, parents and retired law enforcement officers say valuable response time would be lost waiting for police to arrive if an active-shooter incident occurred.
Protestors delivered more than 1,000 petition signatures, imploring the board to reverse a 5 to 4 vote, made earlier this month, which prohibits the district’s 14 grounds monitors from carrying concealed weapons.
“I’m discouraged, disappointed and disgusted that armed security has been taken away from our school,” said high school sophomore Megan Messitt. “Why are you putting our security in jeopardy? Roll your dice in Las Vegas.”
Her statement prompted a loud round of cheers and
a standing ovation from many of the nearly 300 people who filled the high school teaching auditorium where Tuesday’s board meeting was held.
The district’s recent vote reverses a policy that had been in place for about 30 years, with no apparent incidents.
Officials said most grounds monitors are retired police officers. The high school would still have one armed school resource officer, who works for the city police department.
Board members who voted to disarm security personnel say having more guns in schools does not improve student, faculty and staff safety. But many others disagree.
“Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!” said Sean Briscoe, a city police lieutenant, and grounds monitor. “This will continue until law enforcement arrives.”
Briscoe said he’s been informed by school officials that he is no longer allowed to carry a weapon on school property, despite having state and federal exemptions that allow him to.
“It’s crazy,” said John Neeley, a retired state police sergeant, and current security consultant. “This is as irresponsible a move as I have heard a school district making.”
The board took no action on residents’ request for a revote.
Prior to the public comment period, school Superintendent Michael Patton read a brief statement, explaining the board’s recent course of action.
The Gun-Free Zone Schools Act of 1990 allows guns to be possessed by two groups of people, law enforcement officers, and others with written authorization. Previously, grounds monitors didn’t realize they needed school board permission to carry weapons, Patton said.
After researching the matter for several months and obtaining feedback from police, the district’s legal counsel, insurance carrier and school emergency response team members, the board on Oct. 9 voted to not allows weapons use by grounds monitors.
“The outcome of this vote does not imply that the board of education or district does not value and support creating a safe learning environment,” Patton said. “The district is committed to continually evaluating our [safety] and security plan.”
But this did little to satisfy upset parents who say grounds monitors, although retired from law enforcement, are still highly trained and capable of protecting children.
“The equipment they need to protect our students has been taken away,” Jeffrey Halstead said.
Raymond F. O’Conor, of Wilton, said, “My kids went to school here. I never worried that they were going to come home safe. It’s a different time now. Every time I drive by a school I worry, is this going to be the day? You have to be assured that you have the appropriate level of security to protect our kids and teachers in schools.”
“I am in favor of an armed officer in school, well trained and highly qualified,” he said. “We need these people to stop an assailant because if they don’t, who will?”
The controversy marks the second time in recent years that the highly-volatile issue of gun control has divided the Saratoga Springs community.
In January 2013, many people protested the presence of a weapons show at Saratoga Springs City Center, one month after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings in Newtown, Ct. But thousands of Second Amendment rights backers from throughout the region turned out to support the event.
Several speakers at Tuesday’s meeting charged board members who voted to disarm grounds monitors with putting their own political agenda ahead of school safety.
The group Saratoga Parents for Safer Schools was formed in response to the school board’s Oct. 9 vote. The group held a press conference near school grounds prior to Tuesday’s board meeting.
“Seconds matter,” said Kara Rosettie, whose three children attend Maple Avenue Middle School and Dorothy Nolan Elementary School. “The average mass school shooting happens within four to eight minutes.”
Several minutes would expire before someone calls 911 and police are contacted and arrive at the scene, she said.
“How many kids are going to be murdered?” Rosetti said. “By having grounds monitors armed, that is saving not only minutes but seconds off the clock.”