The county school board agreed to pursue figures and other information surrounding increased security within the district’s campuses.
The idea of bringing armed security to the county schools first came to the table when Cooper Dixon, from the Mississippi Department of Education, spoke to the school trustees last month. He covered gun security on the district’s campuses and the available resources from MDE.
The discussion was revisited during Monday’s board meeting with one trustee still having some reservations of armed guards on campuses.
“We might as well hire a warden and run the school district like a prison,” said trustee Larry Walls.
Greg Moseley, school board president, recommended Monday night that the superintendent’s office begin to research the costs associated with increased security.
“Maybe ever try to get a better understanding with the sheriff’s department,” Moseley said. “I just think we need to get the paperwork on it.”
Walls reminded the board that security officers were never officially hired by the board.
“We never did come to an agreement on this,” Walls said. “It was talked about. The board never did agree on it.”
Moseley stressed that he is merely interested in the costs of such a move within the district at this time.
Superintendent Becky Fisher said she could set up a meeting with Dixon and a representative from the sheriff’s department.
“You can’t go ahead with a process if the board didn’t agree on it,” Walls replied.
“But the board did want to proceed,” Moseley added.
Trustee Dewel Ladner agreed with Moseley that the idea was merely in discussion, nothing firm.
“We are not actually talking about hiring a person yet,” said Tom Taylor, assistant superintendent.
Moseley said the board needs to decide whether they sincerely want to pursue adding armed security within the district.
“The parents want to know too,” Moseley said.
Ladner said “times are changing,” and the idea needs to be seriously considered.
Taylor added that it wouldn’t cost the district anything to begin the process.
Trustee Chastity Magyar asked what would happen to the current unarmed guards that are already within the district.
“They are still going to be here,” Fisher said. “No one is losing their jobs.”
The board approved preceding with the process with Walls in opposition.
