More than a dozen people tell Brevard school board: Don't allow teachers to be armed

Brevard school board members denied having previously talked about any plans to arm teachers during a meeting this week, but many members of the public on hand to discuss that topic weren't having it.

The board room was full Tuesday night, with 27 people signed up to speak. Of those, all 14 speakers who discussed guns vehemently opposed the idea of allowing teachers to be armed, even voluntarily, with frustration mounting over board member Matt Susin's denial of arming teachers ever being considered.

Ahead of public comment, Susin assured community members that arming teachers as part of the guardian program was not on the table.

"Nobody has talked about it," he said, adding that the idea had been "perpetuated by a news organization and an off-the-wall organization."

But at the prior meeting in October, board member Megan Wright's proposal of expanding the guardian program did include teachers.

"By no means when we say, '(Expand) the guardian program in Brevard County,' does it mean a teacher now must carry a firearm," said Wright, who was elected board chair at Tuesday's meeting. "It's 100% voluntary. They can choose to do so if they want to be a part of it."

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Wright's proposal to expand the guardian program was prompted by a visit to Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, where the 2018 Parkland shooting took place.

The guardian program was established after the shooting, allowing Class D and G licensed security guards and some school district and charter school employees to participate on a voluntary basis. Private schools may also participate as of 2023.

Brevard already participates in the program, with the district opting to hire civilians with backgrounds in security, the military and law enforcement as full-time security guards in 2019.

Wright's words were quoted during public comment by commenter Rachele Jolley, as well as a quote from Superintendent Mark Rendell.

"Last board meeting, Megan claimed that school shootings (are) just the world we live in," Jolley added. "You are not helpless and have a lot more power than the average citizen."

Minors are at risk of taking unsecured guns from their homes and bringing them into school, Jolley said, urging the board to encourage parents to keep their guns in a place where their children do not have access to them.

"For the last several years, guns have been the leading killer of our children in America," she said. "So I'm sure you can understand the public's concern when this was mentioned at the last meeting."

Others saw the issue as hypocritical, with Gene Trent, board vice chair, making a motion to ban nearly 300 books at the beginning of the meeting. Though that motion failed, members of the public felt that there was too much concern over books, while guns were being considered too cavalierly.

“Why are you so scared of books and not guns?" said Amy Roub, wife of book review committee member Paul Roub. "Because you just don’t pay attention to the data.”

Roub played a recording from the prior meeting of Wright discussing arming staff, including teachers. She was cut off from the microphone after using an expletive.

A handful of other commenters mentioned how students in marginalized groups could be harmed by arming teachers.

Dad Damani Hosey said he was concerned about Black and brown students being put at an increased risk of violence if their teacher were armed.

"We know Brevard Public Schools has an equity problem, with persons of color often receiving disproportionately harsh discipline for the same infractions as white students," he said. "This may be due to the fact that minority students are more likely to be perceived as being a threat. Having a gun in the classroom when such a disparity exists could present a clear danger to Black and Latino students."

Bonnie Harrington, a mom of two, raised concerns about disabled students being harmed if teachers were armed.

"I fear that neurodivergent kids, especially those who have some of the most extreme behaviors, will be at risk if there are guns in schools, and all kids deserve a safe school," she said. "I hope that you will please consider some of the kids that have the behaviors that make them the most difficult to talk about and the most difficult to be compassionate toward ... they are children who are deserving of all of our love and support."

Educators were not in favor of guns, either. Virginia Hamilton, a former BPS teacher, said district teachers are overwhelming not in favor of arming teachers. She also brought up concerns about liability insurance, saying it was a "nightmare" to obtain.

"What about the accidents with guns?" she asked, bringing up examples of guns going off by teachers carrying guns. "Carrying weapons is an accident lawsuit waiting to happen. Just let teachers teach."

The board spent about five minutes discussing arming staff at the end of the meeting, with Katye Campbell saying she is frustrated by misinformation.

"I just have to dispel this myth that is the idea of whoever wants to start carrying or anybody with a concealed carry license can be a guardian," she said, going on to explain the training guardians must go through.

A previous board chose to employ only individuals with military, law enforcement or security backgrounds as security specialists, Campbell said.

Wright said that in a perfect world, the district could hire all school resource officers.

"The intention for me when I brought this forward to expand this out was not to arm teachers," Wright said. "I do believe that a good guy with a gun stops a bad guy with a gun, and I'll say that all day long and I won't back down from that ... with that being said, I am not supporting arming teachers."

It was not clear what related moves the board would make or when.

inch Walker is the education reporter at FLORIDA TODAY. Contact Walker at 321-290-4744 or [email protected]. X: @_finchwalker.

This article originally appeared on Florida Today: Public speaks against arming teachers at Brevard school board meeting