SANDY & WEST JORDAN, Utah (ABC 4 News) – Utah school administrators say they were horrified when they saw the video and realized it could have happened here.
A 56 year old man with a gun walked into a Panama City, Florida school board meeting Tuesday, pointed his weapon at board members sitting eight feet away, ordered women and children out of the room, began a rant about taxes and his wife being fired from her job as a teacher, then opened fire.
Amazingly, no one was harmed except the gunman, who killed himself after a security officer ran into the room and shot him.
Here in Utah, school administrators say the specter that someone may resort to violence
"It could have been a monumental tragedy."
"Is it too accessible?" I ask Canyons School "No. We are open in our meetings and in our policy settings and we invite our patrons in."
Here at headquarters of Utah's newest school district, the Canyons District, there is open access. Still, Jordan officials insist they and the public are as safe as can be at board meetings.
“We do have a uniformed police officer stationed at each one of our board meetings to provide that security," says Communications Director Jennifer Toomer-Cook.
It's a delicate balance: Districts administrators want to welcome parents and children in while keeping danger out.
The Florida incident reminds Jordan District officials of last August's "Truth in Taxation" meetings, when the crowd became so unruly board members had to leave behind a police escort. Now, West Jordan police attend all board meetings.
“It’s not only for our board members to feel at peace,” says district spokesman Steve Dunham, “but also for our patrons to feel at peace that we're providing an atmosphere that they can share their thoughts and feelings without concern."
Policy makers in six different districts tell ABC 4 they have police presence at their board meetings, just in case. The Granite District has its own police force and assigns officers to every board meeting.
To find out about security measures in any Utah school district, simply go to that district’s website and search for the communications or community outreach office in your district. Here’s where you find your district’s website:
http://www.greatschools.org/schools/districts/Utah/UT
