Trustees hear about school safety updates

By Melissa McCaghren

Slatonite GM

The Slaton Independent School District Board of Trustees received an update on actions taken in order to ensure students were safe this school year Aug. 9 during the Board’s regular monthly meeting.

Superintendent Jim Andrus said he attended a program presented by the Secret Service a couple of weeks prior and received information on school shootings. Among the facts addressed were that there had been no incident that had been stopped by an external force. They have either been a person with concealed carry, an officer, a group of people overwhelming the suspect, suicide or giving up.

He updated the Board on the Guardian Program, adding those who signed up for the program were to start Sunday and Monday (Aug. 14-15).

Andrus said the ones participating in the program have been interviewed, are getting their Concealed Handgun License and going through training on campus.

They will also have signage outside notifiying the public they are a Guardian school and the teachers are armed.

The Board also approved changes in policy regarding concealed carry. The amendment exempts those who are part of the program to conceal carry, as well as Slaton PD.

For more information, including other action items discussed by the board, please read the Thursday edition of The Slatonite.