KCS superintendent: 'No intention' of creating policy to allow armed teachers
Knox County Schools Superintendent Jon Rysewyk said he has no plans to ask the board of education to create a policy to allow teachers to carry guns at school because the district already has strong security in place.
"Knox County Schools has no intention of recommending a policy to the board," Superintendent Jon Rysewyk wrote in an email to Knox News.
Gov. Bill Lee signed into law April 26 a measure that allows teachers and staff to carry guns in school buildings, but only with the approval of the district superintendent, school principal and a local law enforcement agency.
Rysewyk has pointed out several times that Knox County Schools already has an armed officer in every school, and that's sufficient security.
"We want our teachers focused on teaching, our custodians focused on maintaining exemplary learning environments for students, and bus drivers focused on transporting students safely to and from school," he said.
The KCS board plans to consider a resolution "in response to recently passed legislation" at its May meetings, Rysewyk said, but he wouldn't speculate what the resolution might say. The resolution text will be included in the agenda, which is typically published several days before board meetings. The board next meets May 6, though it would only discuss, not vote on, a resolution.
Resolutions have no binding authority over the superintendent, though they carry political weight, especially if passed by a wide margin or unanimously. In the past year, the board passed a resolution recognizing and supporting district staff's right to speak up and one to make the district a model district for special education.
Here is the full statement from Rysewyk on guns:
"As superintendent, I have started each school year with a message to families about school safety. The safety and security of our students and teachers is paramount. It is a responsibility that we take seriously at KCS, and my position on the matter hasn’t changed: I continue to believe that a highly trained, armed security officer in every school is our best strategy to protecting students and staff. At KCS, we are fortunate to already have a highly trained, armed officer in every school and to have excellent relations with our law enforcement partners. We have no need for the provisions in this law. We want our teachers focused on teaching, our custodians focused on maintaining exemplary learning environments for students, and bus drivers focused on transporting students safely to and from school."
Areena Arora, data and investigative reporter for Knox News, can be reached by email at areena.arora@knoxnews.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @AreenaArora.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox County Schools superintendent: 'No intention' of creating gun policy
