Duval County’s school board is set to consider allowing adults to keep firearms in vehicles parked on district property—two weeks after a principal was arrested over a gun found in his truck, according to the source report.
What’s on the table
Guns in cars are listed for discussion at a Thursday board workshop, per the agenda described in the source article. The seven-member Duval County School Board will consider changing a policy that prohibits employees from keeping weapons in vehicles while parked on district property, the source reports.
As described, the proposed policy would allow employees and other adults—but not students—to lawfully store guns in cars while parked on school campuses or other district properties. The allowance would also apply to school-sponsored events such as football games, according to the source.
Arrest at Baldwin Middle–Senior High
Two weeks earlier, Principal Michael E. Smith was arrested and charged after a gun was found in his vehicle at Baldwin Middle–Senior High School, the source reports. Following an anonymous tip on Sept. 15 that Smith had a gun in his truck, Duval County School Police said a gun-sniffing dog located it in Smith’s unlocked vehicle, according to the source.
What district leadership said
Superintendent Christopher Bernier said, “At no time is it safe for anyone to be on our campuses with a gun.” He also said, “Somebody who violates the safety and the sanctity of our school buildings like this deserves our full attention,” per the source.
What’s next
The policy discussion was scheduled for a Thursday workshop. The source article did not include any outcome of that meeting.
