In response to the growing concern over school violence, Siouxland Christian School in Iowa has announced that some of its staff members will be armed while on campus. The private Christian school aims to better protect its students and staff from potential attacks. The decision comes after a recent mass shooting at Perry High School in Iowa, which resulted in the death of a sixth grader and injuries to four other students and a staff member.
The superintendent of Siouxland Christian School, Lindsay Laurich, stated that the armed staff members will remain anonymous, with the hope that this layer of protection will never need to be deployed. The school is prioritizing the safety of its students and staff while ensuring that their day-to-day experiences remain unaffected.
The decision to arm staff members has been in the works for over a year, according to Laurich. The school had been considering this policy as a necessary step to protect their school community. Laurich expressed her condolences for the Perry, Iowa community and acknowledged that schools have increasingly become targets for those who wish to do harm.
Following the Perry High School shooting, Laurich read an article in the Wall Street Journal about the K-12 School Shooting Database, which highlighted the frequency of such incidents. She emphasized that school safety is their highest priority and believes that training and arming certain staff members will allow for an immediate response to any potential threats, ensuring the safety of students.
The selection and training of staff members who will carry firearms on campus have been done in collaboration with law enforcement, the school board, administration, insurance carrier, legal advisors, and industry experts. These armed staff members are specifically trained to go directly to the threat in the event of an active shooter situation. Their response aims to buy time for teachers and students to reach safe positions until law enforcement arrives.
Siouxland Christian School’s decision to arm staff members reflects a broader trend across the nation. Many schools have begun arming certain staff members to combat potential threats. A recent poll showed that 48% of people favor arming teachers as a safety measure. Experts have also suggested “hardening” schools with additional security measures, such as armed guards, security cameras, and reinforced doors, to enhance student and staff protection.
Laurich acknowledged that the decision to arm staff members was difficult but necessary given the changing landscape of school safety. She emphasized the school’s commitment to doing everything possible to ensure the safety of their students and staff. The local sheriff, Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan, has been supportive throughout the policy roll-out.
As schools across the nation grapple with the challenge of ensuring safety in an increasingly volatile environment, Siouxland Christian School’s decision to arm staff members represents their proactive approach to protecting their school community.
