Arming Teachers: IL Association Of School Board Revisits Proposal

ILLINOIS —A year after delegates voted against a resolution to seek legislation that would give school districts the option of arming faculty and employees, the Illinois Associate of School Boards (IASB) will take another look at the issue. Two separate resolutions that will be considered at IASB's Joint Annual Conference next month include language regarding the use of firearms by faculty or school resource officers.

Last November, delegates voted 203-179 against a resolution that would support legislation to arm school staff members.

"Districts opposing the measure opined that arming staff would not create a safer environment for their students," the IASB said at the time, adding the intent of the proposal was to "give local school districts the authority to decide what is best for their communities."

The Mercer County School District in rural Illinois is once again pushing other member districts to vote in favor of lobbying for legislation that would give districts the option of having armed administrators, faculty or staff, according to the Chicago Tribune.

But just as it did in 2018, the proposal is facing push back from parents and other districts.

In Kane County, one parent is urging school board representatives to attend the joint conference and vote against arming teachers on Nov. 23.

Parents and board members in Naperville District 203 are also speaking out in opposition to the proposal. Last year, the district unanimously voted against supporting measures that would arm teachers.

Last week, at a meeting of the Frankfort School District 157-C Board of Education, board member Larry Kociolek spoke out against any resolution arming teachers, saying there is no evidence that armed teachers make schools safer and adding that he has never heard from a district community member in favor of arming faculty.

"We should not support other districts to make bad decisions for children," he said. "We should push the IASB to find better, evidence-based solutions to the problem."

Related:

• No Guns For Teachers: Illinois Association Of School Boards
• Armed Teachers: IL District Wants To Be 1st To Give Teachers Guns
• 'Our Teachers Did Not Sign Up To Carry Guns': Illinois Union Head