Ohio School District To Arm Its Janitors This March

A rural school district in Ohio will reportedly arm its janitors in the wake of the Newtown, Connecticut shooting last year.

Montpelier school district superintendent Jamison Grime issued a message to parents on Thursday. The announcement on the district’s official webpage stated that efforts were being done to ensure the safety of its children. According to news.co.au, the cleaning staff will begin carrying weapons to protect students from those who would do them harm.

The janitors in the Ohio school district must complete a two-day course in weapon training this March before they will be issued a firearm. Grime said these measures were being taken in an effort to “substantially enhance and strengthen our security efforts.”

The Toledo Blade reports that the school board voted on Wednesday night to allow four custodians to carry weapons on school property. It’s currently believed this is the first district in the state to allow its employees to carry firearms.

Superintendent Grime told the newspaper:

“Sitting back and doing nothing and hoping it doesn’t happen to you is just not good policy anymore. There is a need for schools to beef up their security measures. Having guns in the hands of the right people are not a hindrance. They are a means to protect.”

School board President Larry Martin explained that the Ohio district had previously considered arming its custodial staff prior to the shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary. However, it wasn’t until the vote on Wednesday that board members decided to move ahead with the measure.

Martin said:

“Our main goal is to offer safety for our students while they are in the classrooms and in the buiding. We have to do something and this seems like the most logical, reasonable course to go with.”

Do you think the Ohio school district should arm its janitors in order to protect its students?