FRUITLAND, Idaho — As threats targeted at children and schools continue to increase around the country and in the state, some Idaho school districts are considering prepping teachers with more than just textbooks.
Fruitland School District in Payette County sent an email to parents on Wednesday asking for opinions on the possibility of allowing school staff to carry concealed firearms.
Superintendent Stoney Winston of the Fruitland School District says that this concealed weapons conversation stemmed from threats being made to other local schools.
"We want to make sure that if we do end up going towards a policy, that we're going to make sure that people are trained," Winston told KTVB Thursday. "That's not only how to handle the firearm, but how to handle de-escalation situations."
Winston said parent and staff feedback has primarily been in support of the teachers being trained on and carrying concealed weapons.
One parent that lives near Fruitland High School said, "Fruitland being a little rural town, it's common for the kids to be around weapons on a regular basis. The safest place for a gun is to be carried by a trained concealed carry person, and if that person has the proper training, it's perfectly safe way of containing it."
KTVB spoke with another parent, a mother, who is not in support of school staff carrying concealed weapons, but somewhat indecisive on the matter.
"I don't think it's safe for children. I don't think it's safe for the teachers," she said. "I think Fruitland is a safe place, but I know that those little towns that have been devastated by shootings thought they were safe too."
Winston noted that if a policy was passed, there would be specific requirements.
Some of the requirements would include 40 hours of training with Fruitland Police Department, as well as ongoing training of two hours every month the staff wish to continue carrying a concealed weapon.
As this conversation begins in the Fruitland community, Winston said the district will take input from parents, students, and staff.
"This isn't something that we take lightly. Student safety, as I will say and say over and over again, is paramount," Winston said. "It's our number one priority, because kids aren't going to learn if they don't feel safe coming to school."
Winston said no decisions have been made, and no policy has been drafted yet.
If a policy were to come about, the ultimate decision would be up to the Fruitland School Board.