Board ponders training, arming LPOSD staff

SANDPOINT — Will armed staff members make Lake Pend Oreille School District schools safer?

That’s the question facing both school board trustees and local residents, parents and teachers at the upcoming district board meeting. Set for 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Sandpoint High School auditorium, the first item on the agenda is a public comment opportunity regarding a proposal to train and arm select school staff.

As with all public comment periods at board meetings, anyone wishing to speak should put his or her name on a sign-up sheet prior to the meeting and limit their comments to under three minutes.

A proposal first introduced by trustee chairman Steve Youngdahl at the previous board meeting two weeks ago, the meeting will help trustees gauge the level of local support for implementing armed staff members to counter the threat of a shooter or assailant.

According to Lake Pend Oreille School Board trustees, they intend to take their time on the issue, weighing all options, studies and opinions before making a decision.

The proposal’s introduction was something of a surprise for many board members since there had been no prior discussion of the issue, trustee Mindy Cameron said.

Youngdahl took point on the subject, researching and ultimately proposing the policy to the board.

Now that the issue is on the table, however, members hope to establish an open environment for discussion of the subject with the public.

According to Youngdahl’s research, armed school staff may indeed be effective at neutralizing a threat before law enforcement have a chance to respond. He proposed strategically selecting staff members to be trained and licensed to carry concealed guns. Their identities would also be hidden from all except law enforcement personnel and school administrators, making them an unknown threat to an assailant.

In response to concerns about armed staff members losing control of their weapons, Youngdahl suggested using a new firearm add-on called the Intelligun. A device that fits on to the grip of any standard M1911 pistol, the Intelligun locks the firing mechanism until a registered user’s fingerprints are detected. Youngdahl hopes that will allay worries about potential injuries or accidents caused by introducing the weapons into the school in the first place.

However, the costs of implementing the proposed policy are still unknown. Between equipment purchases, potential increases to insurance rates and training costs, school officials still have some research to add into the discussion. More information will likely come to light as discussions over the proposal develop in the coming months.