Armed Security Proposal Voted Down By Fairfax School Board

FAIRFAX, VA—After a gunman killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida on Feb. 14, Fairfax County school board members voted against having a discussion on full-time armed security at schools. Board member Elizabeth Schultz of Springfield introduced the proposal at Thursday's school board meeting.

The proposal called for full-time armed security in all Fairfax County Public Schools, either from Fairfax County Police or other licensed security officers.

Schultz had hoped school board members could have a conversation on security measures under her proposal. She recommended the board discuss acquiring additional technology to identify active shooters in school buildings, look at incorporating active shooter drills into existing emergency drills and consider other measures safety and security personnel would recommend.

“Are our kids important enough to protect in the same way we guard money in a bank?” Schultz wrote on Twitter.

However, the school district will look at how it can improve school security. The superintendent announced plans to review security policies, WJLA reports.

The school board did pass resolution calling for stricter gun control at the state and national level. "Members of the community are invited to stand in solidarity with us in memory of all the lives lost to the plague of gun violence and to call on our legislators to act," said board member Ryan McElveen, announcing the proposal on Twitter.

The school board considered the proposals a day after Fairfax County students at numerous schools walked out of classes to call for more gun control. It was part of nationwide walkouts organized by Student Walkout Against Gun Violence. Nationwide walkouts are planned again for March 14 in addition to the March for Our Lives in DC on March 24 organized by Stoneman Douglas students.

The school board's meeting was 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 22 at Jackson Middle School, 3020 Gallows Road, Falls Church. It is open to the public. The Fairfax Education Association held a candlelight vigil for the victims of the Parkland shooting before the meeting at 6 p.m.

Do you agree with the call for full-time armed security in schools? What do you think the school board should do in response to the Florida shooting? Let us know in the comments.

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