WASHINGTON — In the wake of the fatal school shooting in Florida, Fairfax County’s School Board will hear vastly divergent suggestions from members on how to keep children safe.
In Thursday night’s meeting, board member Ryan McElveen will ask Fairfax County residents to demand stricter federal and statewide gun control measures.
“Members of the community are invited to stand in solidarity with us in memory of all the lives lost to the plague of gun violence and to call on our legislators to act,” said McElveen in a tweet.
This Thursday, I will bring a Resolution on Gun Violence Prevention before the Fairfax County School Board. Members of the community are invited to stand in solidarity with us in memory of all the lives lost to the plague of gun violence and to call on our legislators to act. pic.twitter.com/s0Ed0Kd7eP
— Ryan McElveen (@RyanLMcElveen) February 20, 2018
In addition to gun regulations, McElveen’s resolution will seek to advance mental health support for students.
Board member Elizabeth Schultz will introduce a proposal that would consider the possibility of a full-time armed presence at all Fairfax County schools.
On Twitter, Schultz asked, “Are our kids important enough to protect in the same way we guard money in a bank?”
In a form indicating what board members wish to discuss, Schultz laid out the goals of her proposal:
Currently, school resource officers, who are Fairfax County police officers, are the only people allowed to be armed in county middle and high schools.
Fairfax County is the largest school system in the region.
