Sidney schools vote to arm staff

SIDNEY, Ohio (WDTN) - Sidney City School teachers and staff will soon have access to firearms as part of the district’s new safety plan approved by the board of education Monday night.

Under the new plan, staff members trained by the Shelby County sheriff’s office and selected by the district’s administration will become part of a response team. That team will work alongside uniformed reserve officers. In the event of an active shooter in the school buildings, the response team will have access to handguns located in biometric safes throughout the school buildings.

"We're not going to have teachers walking around the buildings with guns.  We're not doing that but we're making the schools safer," says superintendent John Scheu.

The response team will be able to work in conjunction with uniformed officers in dealing with such an emergency.

“The school board’s approval of additional security measures will significantly increase the safety and security of buildings, students and teachers and reduce the risk of a tragedy such as Sandy Hook from occurring in Sidney City Schools,” explains Scheu.

Currently 17 staff members are enrolled in educator training with the sheriff’s office with 25 more scheduled to take the class in the future.

Some parents support this decision.

"I'm totally on board with it.  I actually just went and got my CCW license so it's something I agree with.  I know a lot of people are scared of it but it's not like they're going to use it for anything otherwise," comments Jessica Persinger.

Others think it could be dangerous for their kids.

" I don't honestly see how guns are going to solve the problems that are going on.  I think they need to take better actions in protecting the school itself instead of just using more guns to solve problems," says Ashley Dietz.

The superintendent tells 2 News the response team will be chosen once everyone has completed the classes.

This will go into effect for the 2013-2014 school year.