LPOSD open to broadening security options

SANDPOINT — The Lake Pend Oreille School District appeared open Tuesday to broadening its options for improving school security and refining the way those alternatives are evaluated.

In the wake of the Sandy Hook school massacre, the district is already implementing a series of measures to improve lockdown procedures and security protocols, said district Superintendent Shawn Woodward.

Board Chairman Steve Youngdahl recently recommended training and arming certain staff members, a proposal that has been met with significant support and opposition.

Trustee Joan Fish said she was opposed to such a move on Tuesday.

“As teachers we have a certain kind of training, which is to nurture kids, to bring ‘em along and in some cases be a parent figure,” she said. “The police have a totally different take on this — they’re trained to protect. So these are two separate functions.”

Trustee Barbara Oler suggested implementing a Watch D.O.G.S.  program, which is in place in schools around the country. The Dads Of Great Students programs pulls volunteers from community to help watch over the district’s charges in hallways and on playgrounds.

“It’s an option; it’s not the only option,” said Oler.

Youngdahl, meanwhile, advised the board that he’s met with Bonner County sheriff’s officials to investigate the possibility of using retired law enforcement and military in the community to help patrol school campuses. They would be selected, trained and equipped by the sheriff’s office.

Youngdahl said trained volunteer patrols would be less costly than hiring additional school resource officers, keep more money in the classroom and address student safety.

“They were very open about that,” Youngdahl said of the sheriff’s office response to trained volunteer patrols, which have a preliminary estimated cost of about $10,000-$15,000.

Trustee Mindy Cameron urged the board to observe an existing policy which involves the superintendent investigating various alternatives and bringing them before the board, possibly with recommendations.

“Instead of hashing this out here and asking all the questions which we clearly don’t have most of the answers to, that we follow board policy and ask the superintendent, working with whatever staff he wants to involve on this, to explore all of the alternatives,” said Cameron.

Trustee Joel Molander said he was open to the suggestion.

“Ultimately, the recommendations should come from the administration. The problem that I have is we have an administration that’s being pulled in 50,000 directions right now,” Molander said.

Woodward acknowledged that present dynamic, but did not oppose investigating alternatives on behalf of the board.

“Clearly, it’s my responsibility to take direction from the board and to do legwork you deem important,” said Woodward.

A survey conducted by the Lake Pend Oreille Education Association appears to show little support for arming teachers.

The association’s Brad Smith said about 80 percent of the district’s certified staff (teachers and counselors) and about 50 percent of the district’s classified staff (secretaries, transportation and maintenance officials) took part in the survey.

Of the certified staff, 80 percent of the respondents were opposed to arming staff, while 16 percent were in favor and 4 percent were undecided, Smith said. Of the classified staff, 71 percent opposed arming staff, while 29 percent supported the measure.