School Safety Task Force Meets Thursday

The community leaders heading up Stow's school safety task force want to hear from you.

Stow Mayor Sara Drew's safety task force will meet again Thursday to continue talks started earlier this month about improving safety at Stow school buildings in light of recent deadly mass shootings in Newtown, CT, Chardon, OH and other public venues.

Drew said Monday that one consideration of the 10-member task force is the cost that may come with suggestions for improving school security.

"There have been recent cuts both in the municipal and school budgets," she said.

The task force is charged with making recommendations to Stow City Council by the end of March.

The process for finding those solutions will incorporate a community survey that tries to gauge what parents, teachers and staff members feel are priorities for school security.

Residents offered suggestions at the task force's first meeting that ranged from closing one of the district's buildings to adding metal detectors at school entrances.

Stow City Schools officials recently approved a measure that allows off-duty police officers to carry weapons at after-schools events. A list of officers was provided by Stow Police Chief Lou Dirker for the schools to use.

The task force meetings are open to the public. Thursday's meeting starts at 5 p.m.