The nation’s 10th largest school system this week will be urged to consider revamping security in the wake of last week’s Florida school shooting rampage to include adding more armed protection in all schools.
“Are our kids important enough to protect in the same way we guard money in a bank?” asked Elizabeth Schultz, a member of the Fairfax County, Virginia school board.
“It’s time to have an honest discussion,” she told Secrets. “The largest school boards in the nation have to lead,” added Schultz, whose professional background includes work with Fortune 300 companies, USAID, U.S. Customs, the Secret Service, FBI and ATF.
At the board’s meeting Thursday she plans to push an initiative for a comprehensive new security plan that could include adding police or armed guards to middle and high schools that already have them and also to unprotected elementary schools. Included could be trained military veterans.
In addition, she wants the board to consider buying technology that can identify an active shooter on campus and adding emergency preparedness drills.
“What happens here reverberates around the country,” she said of the big and influential school system. “Potentially it creates a blueprint for schools across the country.”
Schultz described her initiative as an active response to the Florida shootings, not a feel-good proclamation. Fellow board member Ryan McElveen, plans to introduce a resolution on gun control and mental health funding.
Schultz said the time for resolutions is over and she is not wedded to any one solution or even a one-size-fits-all for the county schools. But, she said, it appears that gun control isn’t an answer and that nobody has suggested removing all guns from the nation.
“Guns aren’t going anywhere,” she said. “The question is, ‘Now what?’” she said.
Her goal is to bring school officials, law enforcement, students and educators together to map a flexible solution to school security that deals with threats and access. “Practicability” is key, she said, noting that trying to squeeze thousands of students many times a day through metal detectors isn’t workable.
Below is her proposal to be presented at the board’s forum, which occurs before the regular meeting:
Discuss implementing full-time armed presence in all schools – either through additional Fairfax County Police Officers or licensed armed security – and other Safety and Security aspects related to student and employee safety in FCPS school and administrative buildings.
The Board needs to have a comprehensive discussion regarding the Safety and Security measures deployed in our schools, what current practices are in place at the elementary, middle and high school levels, and discuss the potential of incorporating full-time armed presence in all schools – either through additional Fairfax County Police Officers or licensed armed security.
In addition, the Board should:
- Discuss the potential of acquiring additional technology for identifying active shooters in buildings.
- Assess existing policies regarding emergency preparedness drills and whether active shooter drills should be incorporated into existing practices.
- Other additional measures as may be suggested by Safety and Security personnel, including recommendations for additional safety and security subject matter expertise.
Aspects of Safety and Security which are different for administrative facilities versus school buildings also need to be reviewed and discussed.
Paul Bedard, the Washington Examiner’s “Washington Secrets” columnist, can be contacted at [email protected]
