Texas School Shooting Sparks Disagreements In NJ Board Of Education

NEW JERSEY — The mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas, put school safety at the forefront of Wednesday's New Jersey Board of Education meeting. But while one member of the governing body called for greater gun control and spoke out against turning schools "into fortresses," the board's vice president said he disagreed and didn't think it was a good time for the conversation.

Board Member Dr. Joseph Ricca, Jr. called mass shootings in schools "a uniquely American problem" and called on elected officials to find solutions.

"I don’t want to hear anybody talking about giving guns to teachers," Ricca said. "I don’t want to hear anybody talk about building fences and walls or sending the National Guard to our schools. Anybody who’s talking about that is not leading, and they’re deflecting. The problem is people who shouldn’t have high-caliber weapons in their hands, do."

Ricca also said not to point fingers at people with mental illnesses.

Board Vice President Andrew J. Mulvihill said he disagreed with much of Ricca said but didn't specify what he opposed.

"I don’t think now is the time to have that conversation," Mulvihill said. "I think now is the time to mourn. Now is the time to pray. And I’m so sorry that we lost these children. It’s horrible."

The May 24 shooting at Robb Elementary School, which killed 19 students and two teachers, has pushed federal, state and local leaders to discuss how to prevent similar mass-casualty events — especially in schools.

Dr. Angelica Allen-McMillan, New Jersey's acting education commissioner, didn't take a side on how to solve the crisis. (The discussion came during the meeting's opening statements and not during any portion specifically meant for discussing school shootings.)

But Allen-McMillan said she's still contending with how to help students unpack the "traumatic events" in Uvalde. The acting commissioner mentioned that the New Jersey School Boards Association created a list of resources regarding school security, mental health and traumatic loss.

"Such tragedies undermine the feelings of safety and security we all expect from our schools and workplaces," Allen-McMillan said. "I believe in the power of our educational community to triumph over stark adversity."