(Dubois, WY) – The Dubois School Board voted not to adopt their proposed local concealed carry policy for Fremont County School District 2 last week week.
As a result, when school starts later this month, there will be no additional training requirements in place for staff and volunteers who wish to carry concealed firearms on school property in accordance with the new state law that took effect in July.
The board will consider adopting the policy again at their next meeting, Chair Tracey Nguyen said.
Training support
The portion of the policy the board discussed this week focused on whether the district should fund the proposed training that would be required for staff and volunteers who carry concealed weapons at school.
Currently, the policy says those employees and volunteers must initially 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 semi-annually with an approved instructor covering legal issues, live fire, and scenario-based training, first-aid, and psychological assessment.
All of the costs for the training – including expenses incurred for firearms, holsters, and ammunition – “shall be borne solely by the employee or volunteer,” the proposed policy states.
Trustee Jill Judd said she agreed with 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 discussion, Nguyen pointed out that the board could revise the “cost” portion of the policy in the future “as we learn more” about the expenses associated with the training requirements – and the number of people who might want to participate in the concealed carry program.
“That information is still coming in,” she said. “This is going to be fluid in the coming weeks.”
So far, Superintendent Annette Walters said about 15 percent of employees have responded to a district survey requesting feedback about the proposed concealed carry program.
None of those employees said they would consider participating in the program, Walters noted – and more than 70 percent felt 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,” Walters said. “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.”
About 14 percent of respondents said the district should cover the cost of firearms and ammunition only, Walters noted, while another 14 percent said the district should only pay for the required training.
More responses are likely to come in once 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,” she said.
Three trustees were absent from this week’s meeting, so when the board voted on the proposed concealed carry policy, it failed 3-1.
“This amendment and policy adoption will be tabled until our next board meeting,” Nguyen said.
For more information, call FCSD 2 at (307) 455-5545.