Arming Teacher Option Turned Down By Illinois Association Of School Boards Membership

Rural Illinois school boards were again told that their representation in Springfield wouldn’t support efforts to arm teachers. Like last year, a proposal to allow districts to set training guidelines and allow willing teachers to carry firearms was voted down at the Illinois Association of School Boards’ annual meeting. Association Vice President Ben Schwarm tells the Illinois Radio Network that rural schools want the measure because they’re often further away from a police station and could have longer response times.

Members did vote to have the association pursue a state-funded option for those schools to get an armed resource officer, something wealthier districts often have.