Region 17 School Board Considers Increasing Security at Meetings

News of a gunman opening fire at a Board of Education meeting in Panama City, Fla., last week has some members of Haddam-Killingworth's Regional School District 17 Board of Education on edge.

No one was killed in the incident but the gunman took his own life.

Panama City Police say the 56-year-old man entered the Bay County School Board meeting and shot at the superintendent of schools and members of the board, after saying he was incensed over sales taxes and his wife's termination. 

In response, the District 17 board of education is now considering whether or not to increase security at its meetings in order to protect members of the board and the public who attend.

Upon the request of at least one member, Chairwoman Amy Jacques-Purdy asked School Superintendent Gary Mala to look into what it would cost to have a state trooper assigned to the meetings.

According to Mala, in order to have an off-duty state trooper provide security, it would cost Haddam-Killingworth $64 an hour and the trooper would have to be paid for a minimum of four hours.

The topic of increased security was brought up at the board's meeting on Tuesday. Board member James Lippert suggested that the district should look into hiring a private company to provide security.

Some members of the board had reservations about hiring a private firm, including the chairwoman. "I'm a little reluctant to have random people armed," she argued.

One possibility raised by Lippert is to lock the door of the meetings once they start. Board member Robin Chasse, however, appeared opposed to locking the doors.

"It is a public meeting. People should be able to come and go as they please," she argued. According to Chasse, if a person was interested in coming in and doing harm to a member of the board, all they would have to do is come in before the meeting when the door was unlocked.

Lippert next suggested putting a metal detector in place.

Some members of the board didn't feel there is really a need for increased security at local meetings. "I don't think we need anything," argued Board member Jo Ferjak, eliciting a quick response from Lippert. "Why's that?" he asked in response. "You don't mind getting shot?"

According to Lippert, at some meetings, he has purposely sat near the door because he did not feel safe with certain people there.

"This is a terrible world we live in," he argued. "There is a bunch of crazies out there."

Board member Susan Dean was reticent herself about the need for increased security, including metal detectors or armed security staff.

"If somebody wants to get you for something, our addresses are there," she explained to her fellow board members.

In the end, the board decided it should at least look into increasing security at meetings.

"I will research every option allowable," explained Mala, who told the board he should have more information by the next meeting.