35 replies to this topic

[Molly B.]

We have been contacted by several school boards who know how quickly lives can be lost while waiting for law enforcement teams to arrive on scene of a school attack. An average of 8 students/staff is wounded every minute an attack goes unchallenged.They are concerned about how they can best protect their students – within the framework of the law – in the event of an active killer coming into the school.


a. Some schools can afford private armed security – larger cities.
b. Some take advantage of the grants for school resource officer but that is usually only one officer, usually part time, on campus at any given time. These grants have become very difficult, if not impossible, to get.
d. The biggest concern for many schools, they are located in areas where it might take 30-40 minutes before an effective law enforcement team can arrive on scene – depending on where County and State police are at the time of the call.


The school boards contacting us are interested in returning control back to the local schools boards so that each school board can decide how best to protect their students and personnel until an effective law enforcement team can get to them.
a. They know there are school personnel who have successfully passed all the background checks and training for a concealed carry license, some of them are even former police officers or former military service members. They lawfully and responsibly carry in their everyday life. With additional training in active-killer-response, they want to allow these individuals to continue to do, while on school property, what they are already safely and responsibly doing throughout the rest of their day.
b. In the states surrounding IL – Missouri, Indiana, Kentucky, and in many other states – state law provides for local control by school boards to approve TRAINED and armed staff – specifically trained in responding to life-threatening events - being a part of their Student Safety and Protection Plans.


For the school boards wanting to return control back to the local school boards, we believe the support of the IL Assoc. of School Boards (IASB) will be needed -  To gain the Assoc.’s support we need you to present the Student Safety and Protection Resolution to your local school boards asking them to approve and submit the resolution to the IASB resolution committee before the June 2018 deadline for consideration at the 2018 annual fall meeting.

We are also asking the school boards to send a copy of the resolution to their state senator and state representative in the Illinois General Assembly.
Step #1 – Check here to see if your school board is a member of the IASB.*   Contact your local school board and ask to be put on the agenda at the next board meeting.  This is usually done during the public comment section of the meeting and only 5 minutes to present – be prepared to speak fast and have copies to hand out.
Step #2 – The board will not take action at the first meeting, be prepared to follow up at the next meeting.
Step #3 – If your school board passes the resolution, be sure to follow-up in May to make sure they submit the resolution to the IASB Resolution Committee before the June deadline.

 

*If your school board is not a member of the IASB, use the non-IASB resolution
 

 Student Safety & Protection Resolution 2018.pdf   176.08KB   512 downloads

 

 Student Safety & Protection Resolution 2018 non-iasb.pdf   175.3KB   304 downloads

 

 Presentation Notes for Resolution 2018.pdf   231.04KB   378 downloads

Edited by Molly B., 21 February 2018 - 03:15 PM.
Updated documents

[Molly B.]

Please post in this topic to report when your school board passes the resolution.

[Gamma]

I'll offer a suggestion.

Several years back Mississippi enacted an "enhanced" endorsement to their concealed carry licenses, to address issues like this. In exchange for additional practical training and qualification, they are allowed to carry essentially anywhere that police officers can, with only a few secured facilities (like jails) remaining off-limits. North Carolina has considered such a system and I think a couple other states also. AFAIK there have been no problems at all with this system which has been in place since 2011, so it's not an untried concept.

I'd consider something like that as what to pursue in this discussion. It's not just schools that could benefit from such a system, I know the attention is on schools right now but why not have a little foresight and try to head off a future problem? There's already been a mass shooting at a sporting event, the congressional baseball game. And a mass shooting at a large public event (although in that specific case, carry wouldn't have helped). And truck attacks at parades. How long until some madman decides to target a location that people can't escape from like a train? All of those locations are no-carry zones in Illinois under the current license restrictions.

My suggestion would be simple. A training course in active shooter response, and a practical shooting test which could be copied from the State Police off-duty shooting qualification. And give IROCC retirees the same.

This should be something put forward now, while the impetus is to do something.

Putting even more mental health disqualifiers in place will do nothing, if obviously disturbed and dangerous people like the latest dingbat never get put in to the mental health system.

There already has been a mass school shooting stopped by private citizens with firearms.

There has already been a mass church shooting stopped by a private citizen with a firearm.

There has already been a mass shopping mall shooting stopped by a citizen with a firearm... I think that one was an off-duty officer.

[seansco]

I'm creating a Facebook Page for this.  https://www.facebook...olutionIllinois

If you are going to be helping with this please let me know.  I can make you a contributor to this page.  I would like everyone who is helping be about to post about their progress, create events such as when they are speaking to the school boards, etc.  We need public awareness so people can get behind this. 

[seansco]

If there are any graphic artist types out there that would be willing to create a coverpage and profile pic for the facebook page I would be a great help.

[Bitter Clinger]

I think active shooter response training is a good idea, but it has to be well thought out.

For example, where I work, we have active shooter response drills which consist of everyone piling into storage closets and hiding. We also have the "no guns" sign on our front doors, so everyone is disarmed.

That's a good example of how to do it WRONG.

An effective shooter response drill will need to be more effective and not corral everyone into a room like lambs to a slaughter. Unfortunately, ineffective plans are what most HR departments come up with. They really need a professional to come on site and do an assessment.

[Molly B.]

I'll offer a suggestion.

I'd consider something like that as what to pursue in this discussion. It's not just schools that could benefit from such a system, I know the attention is on schools right now but why not have a little foresight and try to head off a future problem? There's already been a mass shooting at a sporting event, the congressional baseball game. And a mass shooting at a large public event (although in that specific case, carry wouldn't have helped). And truck attacks at parades. How long until some madman decides to target a location that people can't escape from like a train? All of those locations are no-carry zones in Illinois under the current license restrictions.
 

 

I have seen this option available in Mississippi and it's definitely something we can consider.  However, even with this option, we will need the support of school boards in order to have enhanced carry in schools. 

[seansco]

With all the suggestions coming on how and what the schools should do to better protect themselves, this Resolution is trying to give the school boards the options to make those kind of choices and decisions.
Right now we need people willing to go speak before their local school board and "pitch" this to them.

Edited by seansco, 20 February 2018 - 10:11 AM.

[THE KING]

Please post in this topic to report when your school board passes the resolution.

How does one find out if their school board has contacted you. I am pretty sure my school board would support this as I have discussed this with our board president and he is good with it.

[Molly B.]

 

Please post in this topic to report when your school board passes the resolution.

How does one find out if their school board has contacted you. I am pretty sure my school board would support this as I have discussed this with our board president and he is good with it.

 

 

 

PM your school district to me.

[seansco]

Please post in this topic to report when your school board passes the resolution.

How does one find out if their school board has contacted you. I am pretty sure my school board would support this as I have discussed this with our board president and he is good with it.

You will need to contact the school board and present the resolution to them for consideration.

[THE KING]

I have been discussing the safety of students with our school board president for over two years now. I have been saying for those past two years that we need armed security protecting our kids and grandkids. This topic is finally coming to light and being discussed openly even in the media. The President of our country is even in support of these measures.

 

I am scheduled to present this resolution to my school board at their next meeting. I am very optimistic that it will be passed. NOW is the time for all of us that are concerned about the safety of our students to step up and help with this endeavor. If you are truly concerned with the safety of these kids, then we all need to help push to get this resolution passed and get the control of their safety back to the local school districts so they can decide what is in their best interest.

 

This resolution is a small step in the overall big picture but it is the FIRST step that needs to be taken.

 

I will let everyone know how my meeting turns out.

 

KING

[harley1955]

And here's a good reason why they should pass the resolution.....

 

http://www.foxnews.c...-officials.html

[THE KING]

Ok, I went to our school board meeting tonight. The board members were given the resolution ahead of time. I gave a short 15 minute presentation. I hit on some of the talking points that are attached to the original post.

I did not get into the whole gun control debate. My main focus was reinforcing the issue that the resolution returned control of the students safety back to the school districts.

Overall it went very well. Surprisingly there were no questions. I did speak to a few of the board members after the meeting was adjourned. Everything was positive and the impression that I was given is that this resolution will pass at their next meeting.

Considering my personal relationship with some of the board members I believe it will pass unanimously. I will let you guys know what happens next month.

[Molly B.]

This is encouraging!

[THE KING]

This is encouraging!

I have more news if you have time to talk. Can I call you.

[Molly B.]

 

This is encouraging!

I have more news if you have time to talk. Can I call you.

 

 

 

You bet, I should be around all day.

[Bird76Mojo]

Posted this on social media and the only reply was "They skipped "c" on their first list"    



 

 

[THE KING]

Quick update: I talked with the school board president last week. He is postponing the vote on this resolution until the May meeting.

Since this proposal hit the local newspaper some of our teachers have gotten their panties in a wad. There's a meeting scheduled with the teachers and staff to explain what the resolution is.

I have also seen articles in our paper which has led me to believe that there are a couple of neighboring school districts also discussing this issue.

[Molly B.]

http://www.illinoish...guns/1129377413

 

WCIA does a very good segment on IllinoisCarry's Student Safety and Protection Resolution.

[soylentgreen]

Any police chief or sheriff can deputize teachers with CCLs today. They can start carrying tomorrow.

[Molly B.]

Mercer County School Board passes the resolution!  PLEASE take the poll!!

 

http://wqad.com/2018...armed-teachers/

 

ALEDO, ILLINOIS-- On Wednesday night during a school board meeting, Mercer county board members passed a resolution to support legislation that would allow school staff to concealed carry. The resolution passed with a vote 4 -1.

President of the School Board Julie Wagner says the concern for student safety grows with the trend of school shootings. "The main point of the resolution is to allow a local school district to decide for themselves," said Wagner.

 

If resolved the Illinois Association of School Boards will support and advocate for legislation which provides local school boards the option of developing Student Safety and Protection plans.Those plans may include school administrators who have completed a school district-approved training course, concealed carrying training, pass multiple background checks, and require concealed carry license.

 

Wagner says the resolution would help tackle problems rural school districts face.

"The more rural your school district is the further away your building could possibly be from law enforcement," said Wagner.

Mercer County is made up of 5 school buildings in 3 towns. When it comes to square miles, the county is the 5th largest in the district based on area.  Wagner said the district has only one School Resource Officer on site at the high school. One elementary school is in a town with one officer, would take 20 minutes for a response time from the sheriff's office.

 

Wagner stresses the resolution is about local control and districts should control what is best for their schools.

The next step is for the Illinois Association of School Boards to decide whether or not to adopt the resolution.

 

[papa]

The yeses have it by a fairly wide margin.  That's great! My vote was added by the way.

[Molly B.]

Norris City - Omaha - Enfield school board passed the resolution this week!

[bmyers]

Great news!

[mcspider]

Outstanding...  Done

[JTHunter]

I think active shooter response training is a good idea, but it has to be well thought out.

For example, where I work, we have active shooter response drills which consist of everyone piling into storage closets and hiding. We also have the "no guns" sign on our front doors, so everyone is disarmed.

That's a good example of how to do it WRONG.

An effective shooter response drill will need to be more effective and not corral everyone into a room like lambs to a slaughter. Unfortunately, ineffective plans are what most HR departments come up with. They really need a professional to come on site and do an assessment.

 

Clinger, for some time I have been asking people if they remember the line about something is as "easy as shooting fish in a barrel", then reminding them how GFZs are the "barrel" and their kids are the "fish".  Then I ask them if they still believe their kids are "safe" in the "barrel".

Some have turned pale.

[Gamma]

Any police chief or sheriff can deputize teachers with CCLs today. They can start carrying tomorrow.

Can't just deputize, they'd have to take the LE certification classes before being able to carry as LE officers. That was passed years ago to stop the practice of selling deputy cards.

[lockman]

Any police chief or sheriff can deputize teachers with CCLs today. They can start carrying tomorrow.


Can't just deputize, they'd have to take the LE certification classes before being able to carry as LE officers. That was passed years ago to stop the practice of selling deputy cards.

I always wondered what would happen if challenged. A peace officer is exempt by statute. You can be a peace officer by appointment or election. If you donât have the âmandatedâ training, you are still exempt by statute.

We can thank the Cook county patronage posse for confusing additional laws on this subject. Remember the scandal in the seventies? I believe it was sheriff Elrod that gave away badges for political contributions and patronage.

Edited by lockman, 13 June 2018 - 05:53 AM.

[THE KING]

Finally, I just got home from our school board meeting. The student Safety and Protection resolution passed unanimously.

The biggest hold up was the conversation about arming teachers. It was repeatedly explained that this resolution did not allow teachers to be armed instantly.

If you present this resolution to your school district expect people to focus on guns and arming teachers. Glad it's done.

KING