- April 25, 2024
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Parents, teachers and former educators from across the county flooded the Volusia County School Board room in DeLand Tuesday night to convey their questions, thoughts and convictions regarding school safety in the aftermath of the Parkland shooting two weeks ago.
It was the first time the Volusia County School Board met after the mass shooting. Public comment took more than 90 minutes of the meeting, with the largely popular message being: "Don't arm teachers."
"Teachers are people," said Mary Kate Cumiskey, who is an English teacher at Spruce Creek High School. "We are not automatons who will sit by if our jobs and workplaces are challenged. If any teachers, veterans or otherwise, carry guns at my school, I will consider mine an altered hostile work environment."
She was not alone in her thinking. Other speakers said having guns in the schools increases the chances of a student getting hurt, either by accident or by getting caught in the crossfire in the event of a situation like the Parkland shooting. Others brought up that a teacher's priority should be to move students to safety, not gun down an active shooter.
Ormond Beach resident John Upchurch is a parent of a Seabreeze High School graduate and a Tomoka Elementary student. He said it scares him that the school board is considering arming teachers.
"I think it is a very bad idea that more guns be placed in schools," Upchurch said. "I think it is the duty of the police enforcement to make sure that our kids in our community are safe. Teachers do not need to be armed — they have enough responsibility."
Port Orange resident Robert Erwin said he's traveled to countries with strong visible gun presence, which didn't make him feel safe. He said he wants the students in Volusia to feel safe.
"Guns and schools don't mix," Erwin said.
But there were some that thought arming teachers should be considered by the board.
"The only thing that stops a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun," said Larry Westley, New Smyrna Beach resident and senior registered nurse.
He said the board could eventually come up with a more long-term solution, but that the members should be thinking about a short-term solution right now.
Port Orange resident Kim Short said Sheriff Mike Chitwood's idea to arm teachers deserves to be workshopped.
At the end of the night, some school board members said their takeaway was that action needed to be taken, and swiftly. Dr. John Hill, School Board member representing District 1, said he feel's the parents' stress as he has children in public schools in the county too.
"But if you want to see the demise of public education, look no further than not protecting students," Hill said. "Because if you're a parent and your concern is that your child may not come home, guess what? They'll start educating at home."
He said the County Council needs to help the school board with making schools safer. If they can give tax benefits to NASCAR and not charge property taxes to hospitals, Hill said, then it's time the County Council takes time to structure a budget to help the schools.
School Board member Carl Persis, who represents District 4, said he's impressed with the way the students of Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland have spoken out and that he believes they will achieve some form of reform in the future.
"I think this time, because of these students, it just has touched people deeper and made them think differently," Persis said. "I'm just so proud of them."
