DES MOINES, Iowa — A bill that looks to train and arm teachers, along with providing funding for school resource officers advanced Monday at the Iowa Statehouse.
House Study Bill 675 looks to provide up to $50,000 in matching funds to school districts who hire their own SRO or private security guard. Those funds would be provided annually from the state. The bill also allows persons in school buildings to be armed if the individual completes a training program with the Iowa Department of Public Safety and receive a professional carry license.
Many rural school district superintendents and school board officials were at the subcommittee speaking in favor of the bill.
“All I’m asking is to give those people a chance to go home to their families, unlike the Perry principal,” said David Smith, superintendent at the Spirit Lake Community School District.
“I’m going to regardless, I’m going to be running towards the fire, right, all I ask is that I can, you know, go back …