IN FOCUS: ARKANSAS SCHOOL OFFICIALS DEFEND ARMING EMPLOYEES

LITTLE ROCK The superintendents of two Arkansas school districts defended plans to arm teachers and staff that were blocked by a licensing panel earlier this month, as legislators said they are looking at potential changes in state law.

The superintendents of the Clarksville and Lake Hamilton school districts on Wednesday defended their plans to arm employees under a little- known state law for licensing private security guards.

Clarksville had trained more than 20 teachers and staff to work as volunteer armed security guards. Lake Hamilton has used the law for years to arm a handful of administrators.

A state panel suspended the licenses that had been issued to 13 school districts, classifying them as private security firms after the attorney general said the schools couldn’t use the licensing law to arm employees.

Last week, an Arkansas Christian private school announced it would train and arm its staff, and it had posted signs around campus to warn would- be shooters. The

Christian Post reported that the Arkansas Christian Academy will have one to seven armed staff members on site.

Signs around campus have been posted that read: “Staff is armed and trained. Any attempt to harm children will be met with deadly force.”