Armed Teachers: Is This Possible In The Permian Basin?
By: Matthew Farrell
Updated: February 19, 2013
PERMIAN BASIN -- To protect students during that time period, the district has plans in place to secure campuses similar to a lock-down or a shelter-in-place command.
Colburn added that he appreciates why some smaller, rural districts are approving giving teachers guns.
"So due to limited man-power, some districts may be in a position to consider arming teachers," Colburn continued.
Ector County employs similar tactics when it comes to school security, but ECISD Police Chief Mark Rowden said the idea of armed personnel was discussed.
"We did discuss it, but it wasn't best for us considering we do have a police force already in place," Rowden said.
ECISD keeps guards at each high school, and have regular patrol routes around the elementary schools.
Still, response times from the police force can vary.
"If someone is on campus then the response time will be very good, but if they're in another location, well then it depends how far it is," Rowden told Big 2.
It does help that ECISD has a healthy relationship with Odessa Police and DPS.
Depending on who is closer, wait times can be cut down.
For security reasons, Rowden couldn't reveal specific security policies, but did say that teachers, as well as students, are trained in keeping everyone safe during emergencies.
While the Texas Association of School Boards recently rated the security in ECISD exemplary, Rowden said the district is always looking for ways to improve.
"We're always evaluating what we have so far as safety and security, whether that is a procedure, a policy or equipment," Rowden said.
So the larger school districts say they aren't considering armed teachers, but what about smaller schools in the Basin?
Recently, a number of school districts have passed measures giving teachers guns, or are having serious conversations, but none of them are located in the Permian Basin.
The closest to our part of West Texas are Crockett County and Irion County.
As more districts make this move, we may very well see armed teachers come to our area.
We want to know what you think.
Would you feel more comfortable seeing your childrens' teachers carrying weapons?
Sound off on this topic on our Facebook page, that's KMID Big 2, or on Twitter at Big 2 News.
