Oak Ridge Schools staff will be able to initiate lockdowns, and other protections listed

Although Tennessee legislators approved legislation last week to allow teachers and school staff to carry concealed handguns on school grounds, Schools Superintendent Bruce Borchers has assured people that won't be happening in Oak Ridge Schools.

He told that to two local organizations recently and sent out a letter to students' parents on April 24, after the Tennessee Legislature's approval of the gun legislation. In the letter, which is printed below, he said the school system's safety initiatives are believed to protect students and employees better than arming staff would.

Superintendent's letter on protecting students, employees

"Yesterday (April 23), Tennessee lawmakers passed a bill that would allow teachers and other staff members to carry concealed handguns on school campuses should a school district decide to allow it," Borchers' letter said. "If Governor Lee signs the legislation allowing concealed firearms in schools into law, Oak Ridge Schools will not allow teachers or school staff to carry firearms in our buildings. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority, and it is our core belief that our ongoing safety initiatives have a greater positive impact on our overall safety than arming staff would.

"Over the last 10 years, Oak Ridge Schools has invested approximately $2.5 million dollars in providing the highest level of safety and security to our buildings. In partnership with Oak Ridge Police Department (ORPD), our four elementary schools, two middle schools and Oak Ridge High School each have a full-time, armed and uniformed School Resource Officer embedded in their buildings. All internal and external doors remain locked while students are in the buildings, and all visitors must be buzzed in and cleared through our visitor management software. In addition to installing more than 460 security cameras district-wide, we recently partnered with Raptor Technologies to implement Raptor Alert, an app that allows staff to initiate Level 1-4 lockdowns from their phones or an emergency pendant attached to their badges. This system immediately notifies emergency response personnel, alerts all staff, and triggers outdoor strobe lights, automated PA announcements, desktop and phone notifications.

"Perhaps most impactful is our excellent partnership and working relationship with Oak Ridge Police and Fire Departments. Members of those agencies assist in our mandated safety drills, meet with us monthly as part of our District Safety Committee and are integral in the development and implementation of our emergency response plans.  We are so fortunate to have their support and dedication to keeping our students and community safe.

"While there will likely be a lot of media coverage regarding the recent handgun legislation, Oak Ridge Schools will not be allowing concealed handguns in our buildings moving forward. It is our duty and privilege to keep your students safe, and we remain committed to implementing effective and comprehensive policies that prioritize the well-being of everyone in Oak Ridge Schools."

Borchers, as reported in The Oak Ridger on April 23, told the League of Women Voters at its recent Lunch with the League meeting that Oak Ridge Schools employees would not be allowed to go armed in schools. He repeated it at the April 24 meeting of Altrusa International of Oak Ridge.

Brandon Ingram, security director for Covenant Health, was asked at the Altrusa meeting what he thought of the new state law allowing school employees to go armed. He said he was not in favor of the law, saying he didn't think a teacher could shoot a student or former student. Covenant Health is the parent company of Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.

Ingram and Borchers were the featured speakers for a program on school security at Altrusa's meeting in the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel in Oak Ridge.

Anderson County Schools

Meanwhile in the Anderson County school system, there are currently no plans for the arming of teachers, according to Ryan Sutton, the communications/public relations coordinator. He said the issue will be brought before the Anderson County Board of Education once the state legislation becomes law.

What is required for a teacher or school employee to go armed?

The approved Senate Bill 1325 allows Tennessee school faculty or staff to carry a concealed handgun on the grounds of the school they work at, including inside classrooms, without notifying parents. Teachers wishing to carry firearms on school property must obtain a valid handgun carry permit, undergo fingerprinting and background check, receive a psychiatric certification and complete 40 hours of training in school policing. They must also receive permission from the school district, the school principal and local law enforcement.

Vivian Jones of The Tennessean newspaper in Nashville contributed to this story.

The Oak Ridger's News Editor Donna Smith covers Oak Ridge area news. Email her at dsmith@oakridger.com and follow her on Twitter@ridgernewsed.

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This article originally appeared on Oakridger: Borchers: SROs, other safety measures are protecting Oak Ridge Schools