Students at St. Charles Elementary in Lee, Virginia go to school in a building constructed in the 1930’s and don’t have a school resource officer. (Credit: Mallory Noe-Payne / RADIO IQ)
Since the Parkland shooting in Florida lawmakers, teachers and parents are thinking more about school security. But as officials in one Virginia county know, keeping kids safe in remote rural schools can be more difficult than protecting city and suburban schools.
Lee County has 11 schools, but can only afford four resource officers. To help fill the gap they’re turning to teachers and administrators — training them and hoping they’ll get permission from the state to let them carry guns in the classroom.
Mallory Noe-Payne traveled to the far southwestern corner of the state, and has this report.
Mallory Noe-Payne has more on Lee County’s plan to arm teachers.
Virginia Public Radio 