Following the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, which culminated in the murder of children and two teachers, rural Texas school districts seek to arm to staff and add school police officers to campuses.
In this regard, Natalia ISD Board President Eric Smith of Medina County told Fox News Digital: “Just seeing the response from more than 50 agencies that go to Uvalde… how long did it take for many of those agencies to travel perhaps 80 miles from San Antonio“.
“Anything of that capacity, you have to rely on outside agencies to help. And I think the more people we can have on our campus, the better the overall benefit,” he added.
In Medina County, school district leaders have asked county commissioners to fund six School Resource Officers (SROs) who will be stationed in all six county districts to help to protect students from any potential violence or shooting.
“I just hope our county commissioners get on board with this idea. I realize there is going to be a cost. I realize it’s an added expense,” Smith said, according to KSAT
In addition, Smith detailed that his district is also considering implementing a tutoring program, which would arm confidential staff.
According to KSAT, in early May the La Vernia school district in Wilson County already approved putting together the staff and is interviewing employees to fill the positions.
Districts seeking to arm staff are following the lead of Nixon-Smiley CISD, which launched a mentoring program in 2018. The staff of said program must pass state training, undergo psychological evaluations and be approved by the administration and members of the Board.
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