WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — A decision to let security guards at Emporia's high school and middle school carry guns comes as districts across Kansas re-evaluate their safety protocols in the wake of the Connecticut school massacre. Attorney Donna Whiteman of the Kansas Association of School Boards says numerous districts are now reviewing their safety and security plans in the wake of the last month's shooting rampage that left 27 people dead. The Emporia school district's board of education voted Wednesday to allow its security guards, who are school employees, to carry guns starting February 1. The guards would have to meet strict new job qualifications such as law enforcement experience and training, among other requirements. Many districts already have armed school resource officers and share costs with local law enforcement agencies.
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a previous version of this story was published this morning by the Associated Press:
EMPORIA, Kan. (AP) — Security guards at Emporia's high school and middle school will be able to carry guns starting February 1. The Emporia school district's board of education voted Wednesday to allow the security guards to carry guns while on duty at the schools. Currently, all school employees are banned from carrying guns. Superintendent Theresa Davidson said the change will move the district closer to a comprehensive plan for making all students and staff safe. KVOE reports that the board also changed the job description for security officers. Officers will be required to have some law enforcement experience, be certified with a 70 percent target practice accuracy, get 20 hours of law enforcement training every year and follow legal "use of force" protocols.