(Dubois, WY) – Last week, the Dubois School Board voted against adopting a proposed local concealed carry policy for Fremont County School District 2.
As a result, when school begins later this month, there will be no additional training requirements for staff and volunteers who want to carry concealed firearms on school grounds in accordance with the new state law that went into effect in July.
Chair Tracey Nguyen stated that the board will consider adopting the policy again at its next meeting.
Training support
This week’s policy discussion focused on whether the district should fund the proposed training for staff and volunteers who carry concealed weapons at school.
Currently, the policy requires employees and volunteers to complete at least 24 hours of live fire handgun training and 16 hours of scenario-based training, followed by at least 12 hours of recurrent training with an approved instructor twice a year on legal issues, live fire and scenario-based training, first-aid, and psychological assessment.
All training costs, including those for firearms, holsters, and ammunition, “shall be borne solely by the employee or volunteer,” according to the proposed policy.
Trustee Jill Judd said she approved of the proposal as it was presented this week.
“I do not believe that the (district) should assume any of the costs,” she said. “It should be up to that person who’s going to conceal carry.”
Trustee Leah Vermeire felt differently, however, suggesting that the district cover the required training but not the other items.
“I really don’t want this to be prohibitive for anybody that may be interested or qualified,” she said.
Employee survey
During the discussion, Nguyen stated that the board may revise the “cost” portion of the policy in the future “as we learn more” about the costs associated with the training requirements – as well as the number of people who may want to participate in the concealed carry program.
“That information is still coming in,” she told me. “This is going to be fluid in the coming weeks.”
So far, Superintendent Annette Walters reports that approximately 15% of employees have responded to a district survey seeking feedback on the proposed concealed carry program.
According to Walters, none of those employees expressed an interest in participating in the program, and more than 70% believed the district should not incur any costs associated with it.
“They do not believe that the district should provide any financial assistance for individuals who would like to conceal carry on campus,” according to Walters. “They do, however, believe (it’s) the district’s responsibility to mandate that anyone who chooses to do so meets the highest measures of quality or quantity training available.”
According to Walters, approximately 14% of respondents believe the district should only pay for firearms and ammunition, while another 14% believe the district should only pay for required training.
More responses are expected as more employees return to school this week, Waters said, but “that’s the information so far.”
“It’s up to the (board) to determine how they would like to proceed,” said she.
Three trustees were absent from this week’s meeting, so the proposed concealed carry policy was rejected 3-1.
“This amendment and policy adoption will be tabled until our next board meeting,” Nguyen told me.
For more information, call FCSD 2 at (307) 455-5545.
