School to Arm Janitors in Response to Calls for Greater Security
With the national debate on gun control hitting full stride, the idea of using armed guards to protect children in school came to fruition for the first time for a school district in Ohio. There, they intend on arming the school's janitors to keep the children safe and the schools clean.
The Montpelier school district, which is located in a rural area of northwestern Ohio, decided to allow janitors of the schools to carry guns as their solution to protect their children.
Parents of students were notified in a message posted on the Montpelier school district's webpage Thursday. Superintendent Jamison Grime explained that the decision was reached to arm the custodial staff as way to "substantially enhance and strengthen our security efforts."
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Given that the decision to arm janitors was not revealed to the parents until after it was agreed upon, Grime insisted that those tasked to carry firearms would not be permitted to do so until they complete a 2-day course that is scheduled to take place in March.
"Sitting back and doing nothing and hoping it doesn't happen to you is just not good policy anymore. There is a need for schools to beef up their security measures," Grime said in a statement. "Having guns in the hands of the right people are not a hindrance. They are a means to protect."
Grimes also added that teachers, administrators and persons with direct supervision of students will not be allowed to possess firearms. The Montpelier school district is believed to be the first school district in the country to have janitorial staff act as armed guards rather than hire outside security personal.
School board President Larry Martin did address concerns regarding the purchasing and storing of weapons at school and said that the janitors, all of which are male, would have to purchase their own guns and would be paid a stipend for their new security duties in the district's two schools.
