Columbia Board members speak out on voting decision

Monday the Columbia board of education decided schools are safe enough without adding guns to holster of school safety and security personnel.

Four board members voted against it while three members supported the proposal to arm the district director and assistant director of safety and security.

“Our issue is to worry about those issues we can’t control,” said Chris Belcher, Columbia school’s superintendent.

Christine King is president of the Columbia board of education and not happy with last nights decision.

“I felt that by allowing them to have their hang guns it further protects not only the, the individual, but also our schools,” King said.

Especially after the cut back of SRO’s in the last year.

King says passing yesterday’s proposal would complete the package of the school’s security.

Board member Jonathan Sessions believes another alternative can provide that added dimension.

“I don’t think two individuals carrying firearms is going to provide any extra kind of safety that might be necessary if something in the rare occurrence something should happen,” Sessions said.

“We are constantly reviewing safety wether it be in response to tornadoes in Moore OK, to talking about are our drills updated it makes us all review the same thing with safety of behavior or outside forces coming in,” said Belcher.