Official: District Has No Stance on Armed Teachers

Dorchester County School District Two does not support nor oppose teachers carrying concealed weapons in the classrooms, according to district spokeswoman Pat Raynor. 

The district officially has no stance, she told Patch.

This is in contrast to Dorchester Two's presentation to Dorchester County Legislative Delegation, which was billed as Monday's board workshop meeting was billed as "(discussing) educational issues in the upcoming legislative session." In the presentation, a PowerPoint slide read, "Recommendation: Oppose H.3161 and similar legislation."

H.3161 is the bill that would allow public school employees with a concealed weapons permit to possess a firearm on school property. 

Read the original story here that attributed the recommendation to the district.

Raynor said this was a communication error, and that the district has no stance, but was relaying information from other entities. 

"We have not taken an official stand in the presentation (to the legislative delegation) ... It was a miscommunication. The statement is a recommendation from coalitions we're involved with ... We would need input from parents and employees before taking a stance," Raynor said.

The presentation was made by district Chief Financial Officer Allyson Duke, who began the presentation by saying these were issues the legislators needed to be aware of going up to Columbia. Tuesday is the state legislators first day back in session. 

Monday night, Superintendent Joe Pye was asked, through his spokeswoman: "Why does he not support teachers with CWPs carrying on campus?" 

“I don’t support this idea or oppose it. But I do question, is more guns in our schools the only answer?” Pye said.