A comprehensive safety plan that was studied for over a year will lead to school officials establishing an armed response team that will have access to weapons in all school buildings in the Mad River School District.
“All weapons will be locked in biometric safes during the school day,” according to a release from the district. “Only trained staff members on the response team and law enforcement officials will know where the safes are and have access to them.”
The new policy will be implemented for the 2017-2018 school year and trained staff members will go through a 26-hour, 3-day training program.
District officials said the new policy is in direct response to the recent school shooting in Madison Twp., Butler County, and the rise of mass shootings.
The district plans to team with the Riverside Police Department and the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office on internal training and simulations.
Riverside police will conduct regular inspections of the firearms, the district said.
Members of the armed response team will have to go through a rigorous interview process with specific district-level administrators and Riverside police. They also will be required to carry a conceal carry license, which includes additional background checks, the district said.
District board members approved the new policy during its July 28 board meeting in an effort to add an additional layer to the district’s safety plan.
