Post by Deleted on Mar 12, 2018 23:27:36 GMT -6
Last month's school shootings in Parkland, Fla., have triggered an outpouring of safety measures in the Louisiana Legislature, including controversial proposals to let teachers arm themselves.
Other bills would allow students to wear bulletproof backpacks, let teachers toss students viewed as threats and provide benefits of $250,000 to the spouses of teachers and other school employees killed on the job.
Those and other measures are on the education agenda for the 2018 regular session, which begins at noon on Monday. Gov. John Bel Edwards is set to address a joint session of the Legislature at 1 p.m.
Efforts are also underway to overhaul the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, subject state Superintendent of Education John White to more scrutiny and lighten teacher tenure and job evaluation rules.
However, the gun debate is sure to spark heated arguments after 17 students and others were killed on Valentine's Day at a high school in south Florida.
Rep. J. Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs, is sponsoring a bill that would allow teachers and other school employees who have a concealed handgun permit to carry it at school or on school buses.
"Around here there are not many days that go by that there is not some kind of threat in our schools," said Pope, who was superintendent of the Livingston Parish school system for 14 years.
The legislation would allow local school boards to authorize the guns on campus.
Teachers would have to finish an eight-hour tactical training course yearly, and principals would have to notify parents on which teachers were authorized to carry a gun.
Pope said he hopes his bill will spark a conversation.
"We put a lot of safeguards in there," he said. "It is really a local option."
Debbie Meaux, president of the Louisiana Association of Educators, criticized the concept. "Not a wise decision to arm educators," she said in an email response to questions.
"Politicians should not be using educators as the first line solution to the harder decisions they need to be making in regards to gun control, keeping schools safe and tackling the larger social issues," Meaux said.
Pope's measure, House Bill 332, is one of at least three on the topic.
Rep. Ray Garafalo, R-Meraux, is sponsoring a similar measure, House Bill 271.
Sen. John Milkovich, D-Shreveport, wants to let school boards designate employees who can carry handguns on school campuses. In addition, Milkovich's bill would let teachers remove students if they conclude the student "poses a significant threat to the safety of another person on school grounds."
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Other bills would allow students to wear bulletproof backpacks, let teachers toss students viewed as threats and provide benefits of $250,000 to the spouses of teachers and other school employees killed on the job.
Those and other measures are on the education agenda for the 2018 regular session, which begins at noon on Monday. Gov. John Bel Edwards is set to address a joint session of the Legislature at 1 p.m.
Efforts are also underway to overhaul the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, subject state Superintendent of Education John White to more scrutiny and lighten teacher tenure and job evaluation rules.
However, the gun debate is sure to spark heated arguments after 17 students and others were killed on Valentine's Day at a high school in south Florida.
Rep. J. Rogers Pope, R-Denham Springs, is sponsoring a bill that would allow teachers and other school employees who have a concealed handgun permit to carry it at school or on school buses.
"Around here there are not many days that go by that there is not some kind of threat in our schools," said Pope, who was superintendent of the Livingston Parish school system for 14 years.
The legislation would allow local school boards to authorize the guns on campus.
Teachers would have to finish an eight-hour tactical training course yearly, and principals would have to notify parents on which teachers were authorized to carry a gun.
Pope said he hopes his bill will spark a conversation.
"We put a lot of safeguards in there," he said. "It is really a local option."
Debbie Meaux, president of the Louisiana Association of Educators, criticized the concept. "Not a wise decision to arm educators," she said in an email response to questions.
"Politicians should not be using educators as the first line solution to the harder decisions they need to be making in regards to gun control, keeping schools safe and tackling the larger social issues," Meaux said.
Pope's measure, House Bill 332, is one of at least three on the topic.
Rep. Ray Garafalo, R-Meraux, is sponsoring a similar measure, House Bill 271.
Sen. John Milkovich, D-Shreveport, wants to let school boards designate employees who can carry handguns on school campuses. In addition, Milkovich's bill would let teachers remove students if they conclude the student "poses a significant threat to the safety of another person on school grounds."
For More You Can Check:
Corporate Video Pricing