In a move against arming teachers in its schools, the Knox County Board of Education has passed a resolution to keep school security in the hands of professional officers. This decision comes after a new Tennessee law opened the door for teachers to concealed carry. The resolution maintains that "school security officers, school resource officers, and other law enforcement officers will continue to be the armed personnel on campus," as stated in the official text reported by WATE.
Kristi Kristy, a Knox County school board member, introduced the resolution emphasizing the district's reliance on its already stringent security measures. Despite some debate, the board agreed not to explicitly state their opposition to the law allowing teachers to bring guns into schools. "I think we need to quickly establish our standing on this issue," Kristy said, "We have to openly show our trust in our school security teams and local enforcement," according to a statement obtained by WBIR. Superintendent Jon Rysewyk also firmly stated that there was no need for teachers to carry weapons in the classroom.
The conversation around school safety has been especially poignant in the wake of recent gun-related tragedies. Mary Joyce, a mother who lost her child in the Covenant School shooting, lamented the direction of legislation, "I am still in shock and sickened by the legislature that thinks this is the solution to eliminate the risk of our students getting shot at," as she told WBIR. In contrast, others like Sherri Garret, a member of Moms for Liberty, spoke in support of arming teachers at the board meeting, perceiving it as an additional layer of protection for students.
There was some support within the board for an amendment that would have explicitly opposed the arming of teachers, but it failed to pass with a 4-4 vote. "We need to make a very firm statement so that there is no question about our intent," contended Jennifer Owen, a member of the board expressing the need for clarity. Knox County has joined other East Tennessee districts, including Anderson County, Jefferson County, and Clinton City Schools, in deciding not to allow teachers to carry concealed guns in schools. The school districts appear to stand together in their message: when it comes to school security, better to leave it strictly to the police, reported by Knox News.
