KALAMAZOO (WKZO AM/FM) — Kalamazoo school officials are applauding the State Supreme Court’s recent ruling that schools have the right to ban guns.
Superintendent Michael Rice says it comes with a warning and continued call for vigilance, because the narrow 4 to 3 ruling only found that the legislature had neglected to prevent schools from banning guns, and that there is nothing keeping lawmakers from reversing that.
Kalamazoo Schools is one of a minority of districts who have taken a strong position banning guns.
Guns will be in the curriculum for KPS teachers who will be going back to class between now and September, learning new curriculums the district will be introducing. They call it professional development, and part of it his year will be a refresher course on survival, should a crazed gunman find his way into a school.
Board President Patty Sholler-Barber says it’s a shame they have to do this, but it’s also the responsible thing to do to make sure teachers are prepared.
They are teaching the ALICE program, which stands for Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter Evacuate. Each represents a different step or strategy when facing an armed intruder.
