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    Thomason’s plans growth and with it, a broader distribution of its famous baked beans

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    Pittsburg uses new construction process to build a new type of water storage tank

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    Executive director says this year’s arts alliance lineup gives people what they want

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    2000 baseball Cols remember fondly state championship season a quarter century later

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    Thomason’s plans growth and with it, a broader distribution of its famous baked beans

    Thomason’s plans growth and with it, a broader distribution of its famous baked beans

    BRIEFS: HCPL hosts Veterans Resource Fair; City High class of ’75 reunion; HPD wants help finding car thieves

    WEHT/WTVW employees rally for their union

    WEHT/WTVW employees rally for their union

    Good News: Habitat breaks ground on another build; future owner ‘overwhelmed with joy’

    Good News: Habitat breaks ground on another build; future owner ‘overwhelmed with joy’

    Pittsburg uses new construction process to build a new type of water storage tank

    Pittsburg uses new construction process to build a new type of water storage tank

    Pitching ace Kemp uses bat to send Lady Cols to state again

    Pitching ace Kemp uses bat to send Lady Cols to state again

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    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    Blazing-fast broadband services now available to the majority of homes in the city and county

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    HMP&L signs initial agreement to build a battery energy storage system on South Green Street

    In some parts of the U.S., the grid of the future might be closer than you think

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    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    Executive director says this year’s arts alliance lineup gives people what they want

    Executive director says this year’s arts alliance lineup gives people what they want

    2000 baseball Cols remember fondly state championship season a quarter century later

    2000 baseball Cols remember fondly state championship season a quarter century later

    Summer Sunset Series, SummerFest ratchet up Henderson festival season this week

    Summer Sunset Series, SummerFest ratchet up Henderson festival season this week

    May the summer blockbuster season begin!

    May the summer blockbuster season begin!

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    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    The Gnomes of Audubon Forest, a Henderson Tourist Commission initiative, is a scavenger hunt for all ages

    No Kentucky Home, Part 4: A missing bench comes to symbolize missing solutions to homelessness

    No Kentucky Home, Part 3: A church called its vision for housing a ‘Beacon of Hope.’ The mayor had concerns.

    No Kentucky Home, Part 2: After living outdoors for weeks, she got a place to sleep, a shower — and a job

    HCHS grad Tyler Brocato currently competing in a national chef competition

    HCHS grad Tyler Brocato currently competing in a national chef competition

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School ‘guardians’ bill advances despite GOP lawmaker’s call for more input from law enforcement

McKenna Horsely by McKenna Horsely
March 2, 2024
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Courtesy of Kentucky Lantern
February 29, 2024

FRANKFORT — A Republican bill aimed at increasing school security by enlisting armed “guardians” was approved by a Senate committee Thursday, despite concerns raised by Republican Sen. Danny Carroll, a former police officer, who called for more input from law enforcement.

The sponsor, Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, says Senate Bill 2 expands on the School Safety and Resiliency Act that he successfully carried in 2019. That bill was introduced in response to a mass shooting at Marshall County High School in 2018 that killed two students and injured others.

The portion of the bill that has gained the most attention would allow certified “guardians” to fill in for law enforcement officers in schools that do not currently have officers. Those eligible — including honorably discharged military veterans and retired or former law enforcement officers — would undergo special training.

Wise told the Senate Education Committee Thursday that his legislation has a “layered approach” to increasing school security while supporting mental health resources. 

“This bill is in no way replacing or removing any of the protective safeguards that we have in place when it comes to the security of our school campuses or the services provided to our students and our staff,” he said. 

The armed guardians would not have the authority to make arrests, unlike school resource officers, or SROs. Wise previously said 600 campuses do not have SROs for various reasons, primarily lack of funding and workforce participation.  Danny Carroll (LRC Public Information)

Ten members of the committee voted in favor of the bill. Democratic Senate Floor Leader Gerald Neal, of Louisville, passed. 

Sen. Danny Carroll, R-Benton, voted against the bill. Carroll represents Marshall County and is a former police officer. “I have some concerns about the amount of input that law enforcement has had in this bill, in developing this, because this affects them directly,” Carroll said before adding that SROs could work directly with a guardian and their lives could depend on their response. 

Carroll also stressed that military training, mission and experience are different from that of trained law enforcement officers.

Wise replied that he had reached out to the Department of Justice and police officers, who have also reviewed versions of the bill. He said his door is open to supporters and opponents and changes can be made before his legislation would be implemented in 2026. 

While explaining his yes vote, Democratic Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas, of Lexington, said that lawmakers should be cognizant that such legislation could lead to schools becoming “fortresses” in the future and could instill fear in Kentucky’s students. 

“They’re going to see more and more people with more and more guns and that’s going to have  a real impact on how they view school and their ability to learn,” he said. 

Cathy Hobart, a volunteer with the Kentucky chapter of Moms Demand Action, was the only member of the public who spoke against the bill. She said Wise’s provisions surrounding mental health in the legislation would have a positive effect, but the sections for using armed guards are problematic and would not stop violence. 

“Safe schools are built on trusting relationships among students, staff and administrators,” she said. “The most important thing that a school can do to prevent active shooter incidents and gun violence overall is to intervene before a person commits an act of violence.” 

Other states have similar programs. After the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018, Florida established a school guardian program. 

Kentucky Lantern is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Kentucky Lantern maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Jamie Lucke for questions: info@kentuckylantern.com. Follow Kentucky Lantern on Facebook and Twitter.

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