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Online Study Communications, January-March 2021
Survey Questions 1-9
State study explores issues around arming school personnel
Here is your opportunity to be part of an effort by the League of Women Voters of Ohio to establish a position on arming school personnel. The study covers the risk of harm to students, school personnel and communities; mishandling of firearms; training; cost; accountability; and liability. Legislative bills have already been before the Ohio General Assembly, and media articles have been appearing with more frequency on this issue. Having a position will allow Leagues to speak on the many facets of the issue at both the state and local levels. 

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STUDY & CONSENSUS

  • A study is a League process to prepare for a consensus meeting by the members of the League of Women Voters of Kent. Leagues across Ohio will be participating in the same study and consensus.
  • Once a League has studied a topic, the membership meets to discuss and come to consensus on a set of questions that will become a "position," a set of principles on which a League can take action on national, state or local levels. This study applies to the state and local levels.
  • The Arming School Personnel Study (ASPS) Committee has organized the Kent study with a series of surveys accompanied by research that will be rolled out in this email communication every other Sunday from now until March 14. (All of the research and links to the surveys are now also available on this website page.) The committee will use the survey results to guide the consensus meeting discussions.
  • The consensus meeting is scheduled for March 18, 2021, 7 p.m., online. Information to attend the Zoom meeting will be provided in upcoming communications. 
  • All responses are anonymous.
  • Deadline to submit surveys is March 17, 2021.

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AN ONLINE STUDY EXPERIENCE

How will you prepare for the March 18 meeting? At the meeting, we will discuss the five topics listed here and attempt to come to consensus. The topics are as follows:

1. Decision Making
2. Cost and Liability
3. Armed Personnel, Checks and Training
4. Storage
5. Perceptions of Safety

To facilitate discussions and allow us to cover lots of information in the March 18 session, the committee will be sending out, via this email newsletter, materials to help you prepare, beginning with the list below that will introduce the topic of arming school personnel. Click on the titles below to view the materials:


The newest survey is #3 and is listed first followed by Surveys 1 and 2. We appreciate your participation!

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MULTIPLE WAYS TO EASE INTO THE STUDY OR
GET IT DONE ALL AT ONCE!

Good news! If you miss one week, you'll have access to the study surveys and resources through each of these email communications. In addition, all of the information and surveys are now on our website and we'll be sending links and reminders in our newsletters.

Need the materials printed? Request paper copies of the materials or, if you have questions, contact: Debbie Barber, ASPS Committee Chair. She can be reached at 330-221-1205 or dbarber@kent.edu.

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ABOUT SURVEY MONKEY

Please note that the survey monkey response does not constitute a vote nor does it contribute to the real time consensus meeting process. It will be used as a tool to help the committee conduct the consensus meeting. Your voice at the meeting makes all the difference in a meaningful and powerful result.
ARMING SCHOOL PERSONNEL STUDY
TOPIC 4: STORAGE, Questions 8&9, Feb. 28
8. Gun storage and management in a school setting is a complex process. What is the safest way to store/manage guns for armed school personnel?

A. Guns are to be locked, unloaded, and stored in a locked gun safe. Ammunition to be stored in a separate locked safe.
B. Guns should be stored in a locked storage safe but may be loaded.
C. Schools should utilize biometric lock boxes for loaded guns and store them in the classroom. 
D. Schools use Smart Guns used by specified armed personnel.
E. School personnel carry the loaded gun on their person at all times.
F.  Arming school personnel should not be permitted.


9. Regarding students having access to the armed school personnel’s firearm, with which statements do you agree?

A. Students are curious and will likely be tempted to explore guns.
B. Students can be taught appropriate gun safety practices.
C. When guns are present, there is a higher risk of students being injured or killed with a gun.
D. Guns should be hidden so students do not know guns are present in the schools.
E. Arming school personnel should not be permitted.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Click here
TAKE THE SURVEY: TOPIC 4 SURVEY

TOPIC 1: DECISION MAKING, Questions 1-3, Jan. 17
This topic has been broken down into three primary questions:

1. What role should the state play?
2. How should the decision be made by each school district, and what level of transparency should there be regarding this decision?
3. Within each community, who should have a say in whether to arm school employees?

Concerns to consider when reviewing the research include the following:
  • The impact of these decisions on such issues as the placement of both the burden of expense and legal liability
  • The existence of sufficient laws to serve as a foundation for creating school policies for arming district employees
  • The potential for divisiveness within the community regarding what decisions are made and how they are made

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Click here
TAKE THE SURVEY: TOPIC 1 SURVEY

TOPIC 2: COST & LIABILITY, Questions 4&5, Jan. 31
Funding for armed school personnel includes money for training, weapons and ammunition, storage, maintenance, and liability. Funding is impacted by interpretation of state and federal laws, stances of professional organizations, political orientation, and beliefs of special-interest groups.

This topic has been broken down into two primary questions:

4. If a district decided to arm school personnel, doing so would incur significant cost, including implementation, equipment, training, liability, and maintenance. How should this be funded?  

A. The cost should come out of the current budget.
B. A levy should occur to provide additional resources.
C. School districts should seek private funding.
D. The state government should provide funding.
E. The federal government should provide funding.
F. Funding should be a combination of federal and state.
G. Cost should shared with community law enforcement agencies
H. Approved armed school personnel should cover their own costs.
I. Arming school personnel should not be permitted.

5. Who should be held legally liable for armed school personnel? 

A. School District Administrators        
B. School Board                       
C. Armed School Personnel              
D. All of the above
E. None of the above

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Click here

TAKE THE SURVEY: TOPIC 2 SURVEY


TOPIC 3: ARMED PERSONNEL, CHECKS AND TRAINING, Questions 6&7, Feb. 14
6. The school personnel who will be armed should meet which of the following. Choose all that apply: 

A. A full background check
B.  A concealed carry permit  
C.  Approval by the superintendent in coordination with Police Chief
D. School personnel will take on-going training.          
E.  Self identified volunteer employed by the school.  
F. Arming school personnel should not be permitted.

7. Who should determine the firearm training requirements such as frequency, length, content, certification, trainer qualifications, continuing education etc.) for the training of armed school personnel?

  1. State governments should mandate the requirements for training programs.
  2. Appropriate state law enforcement agencies
  3. Individual school districts
  4. Arming school personnel should not be permitted.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES: Click here
TAKE THE SURVEY: TOPIC 3 SURVEY

DEADLINE TO SUBMIT ALL SURVEYS IS MARCH 17

WHEN TO EXPECT THE FINAL SURVEY

March 14, 2021, 6 p.m

RATE THE STUDY PROCESS, PLEASE

Once you've completed the five topics, click here to evaluate the process and thank you in advance!

Contact LWV Kent at lwvkent@gmail.com.

Interested in working on a committee or serving on the LWVK board? Check out how you can participate here.