Guns-in-school resolution tabled indefinitely

A controversial “school safety” resolution urging the state to allow school districts to decide whether people licensed to carry guns can do so on school grounds and in classrooms is not likely to be reconsidered by the Northern Ozaukee School Board in the near future.

In August, member Dan Large asked the School Board to adopt essentially the same resolution approved by the Germantown School in July — one that says a sign that reads “‘Staff is armed and trained to use deadly force’ sends a message that the school will not be an easy target” — but the issue was tabled because of controversy over advocating for guns to be allowed in schools.

It was expected at the time that the board would reconsider the resolution at its next meeting, but it was not on the agenda for last week’s meeting.

Supt. Dave Karrels said after the meeting, “For now, it’s tabled for the immediate future.

There’s no rush to revisit the issue because even if such a resolution was successful in prompting such legislation to be drafted and approved by the Legislature, it wouldn’t be signed into law by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, Karrels said.

That, however, may change if Republican Tim Michels defeats Evers in the November election.

“If there’s a change in the governor’s office, we can reassess then,” Karrels said.

The resolution approved by the Germantown School District, which Large said the Northern Ozaukee School Board should adopt verbatim, also calls on the state to provide advanced defense and firearm training to school staff members who choose to participate, provide mobile weapon detection systems similar to those used at professional sporting events, fund mental health services and “tools” for students that may include smartphone apps and mandate high bail and strong sentences for violent offenders.

In addition, the Germantown resolution calls for that district to hire school security aides as allowed by the Law Enforcement Officers Safety Act, which permits retired law enforcement officers to carry concealed guns everywhere regardless of local or state laws with some exceptions.

While some Northern Ozaukee School Board members expressed support for a similar resolution, Suzanne Miller said she opposes it, adding that its wording is “inflammatory” and “unnecessary.”

The Germantown resolution states, “Soft on crime district attorneys and judges around the state set ridiculously low bail and weak sentences, which directly lead to the massacre that occurred at the 2021 Waukesha Christmas Parade.”

The resolution also implies that students who deal with mental illness are a threat to school safety, citing data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that found one in five children have a mental disorder but only about 20% of those children receive care from a mental health professional.