A suburban Chicago district is moving forward with a plan to fill clerical roles with armed retired police officers who will also be available to increase school security.
The Palatine Township Elementary District 15 school board adopted Superintendent Scott Thompson’s proposal this month. The 12,800-student district still requires the endorsement of the support-personnel union.
Under the proposal, retired officers would serve as support employees in the front offices of elementary schools. They would also be allowed to use their law-enforcement experience if needed.
“As I evaluated all the ways we can spend dollars to make our schools safer, this was a no-brainer,” Thompson said.
Some district employees have criticized the move, saying that guns don’t belong in elementary schools.
