Jay County Schools To Buy Guns For Some Staff Soon

A rural Indiana school district that plans to give some staff members access to guns says it could purchase them within the next month.

Nearly 50 Jay School Corporation employees volunteered to have access to the guns.

They will be kept in locked safes, which will be strategically placed throughout schools. In the event of an active shooting situation, approved staff members will have access to the guns so they can intervene.

Jay School Corporation Superintendent Jeremey Gulley says the district is starting the process of deciding who will be able to use the firearms.

“The sheriff and I will be interviewing them later in the month and then there will be psychological screenings similar to what police departments offer candidates,” Gulley says.

The school board will also have to approve the candidates. They will then go through at least 26 hours of hands-on training.

Gulley says he expects the district to purchase guns, safes and tactical vests within the next month, with training taking place this fall. He estimates the equipment will cost around $75,000.

The district is also considering requesting handheld metal detectors from the state.

Gov. Eric Holcomb announced Monday the state would make them available to every district at no cost.

Gulley says he’ll meet with the school board next week to discuss whether the district should take advantage of the state’s offer.

“Our strategy is three part: prevention, hardening the schools and increasing armed security,” he says. “So access control is a part of our strategy.”

Schools must request the metal detectors by July 19 in order to receive them by mid-August.