The Ohio Supreme Court has ruled that school districts must provide police-level training to employees carrying concealed weapons.
At issue was a policy adopted by Madison Local Schools in Butler County in southwestern Ohio. The district voted to allow armed school employees after a 2016 shooting in which two students were shot and wounded by a 14-year-old boy.
A group of parents sued the district in September 2018 to prevent teachers from being armed without extensive training.
The state high court ruled 4-3 Wednesday that armed school employees must undergo an approved basic peace-officer-training program or have 20 years experience as a police officer.
A bill in the Ohio House would allow teachers and school workers to carry guns in schools if they have the eight hours of training that comes with earning a concealed carry license.
The bill, which gives local school districts the authority to require additional training, is sparking a debate on how to keep students safe in the classroom.
Rep. Thomas Hall (R-Middletown) said, the bill would give local officials the authority to come up with a school safety plan that could include more training.
Hall's father was the school resource officer at Madison High School, who chased the shooter out of the building.
