As part of a proposal to increase district security, a number of Southlake school employees may be bringing firearms to work as early as next autumn.
Up to ten staff would be permitted “to make arrests and exercise the authority given to peace officers” under Texas law, according to the plan that the Carroll ISD school board is considering Monday.
However, this would only be permitted to the degree necessary to avoid “serious bodily injury or death of students, faculty or visitors.”
Online resources state that the marshals need to be employed by the school district and possess a current Texas concealed handgun license.
Applications will be accepted by the district, which will select the team based on campus requirements and whether the worker has any previous police enforcement or military experience.
According to the district, the marshals will not get additional compensation for their participation in the program; rather, Carroll ISD will pay for their training, equipment, and any overtime they may be required to perform.
“Marshals will be required to carry a 9mm weapon loaded with approved ammunition provided by the district,” according to an FAQ provided online. “The make and model of the weapon must be on the approved list provided by the Southlake Police Department.”
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Participating employees will have to go through a psychological and physical evaluation conducted by the same office that conducts comparable assessments for the Tarrant County Sheriff’s Office and Southlake Police.
According to the rules, a school marshal who regularly interacts with pupils is not permitted to carry a hidden firearm; nevertheless, the weapon must be placed in a secured safe within easy reach.
