HARRISONBURG, VA (Rocktown Now) — The Harrisonburg City School Board approved revised Policy 666 regarding Staff Weapons in Schools. 

Administrator Kelly Lineweaver said the revision was made due to the language being confusing and worked with the Virginia School Boards Association to revise and reissue the policy for the state. 

School Superintendent Dr. Michael Richards clarified this is not what you may see in other states where it’s about teachers carrying guns. 

“Our SROs have weapons in our schools. The JROTC program has some air guns that they keep locked up, that they use for target practice in a very safe, regulated manner, and so forth. So, it’s not that– it’s not what people may think when they hear this policy title,” said Dr. Richards.

Lineweaver added that this is reflecting the Code of Virginia and the few circumstances in which it is legal for someone to bring a weapon.

The added revisions include:

  • Except as expressly authorized by law, no person may possess or use any firearm or any weapon, as defined in Policy 440 Weapons in School, on school property (including school buses and vehicles), at a school sponsored activity, or on that portion of any property open to the public and then exclusively used for school-sponsored functions or extracurricular activities while such functions or activities are taking place.
  • The Superintendent or designee shall implement this policy in a manner consistent with state law and shall permit possession of a firearm or other weapon on school property only by persons and in such circumstances as expressly authorized by law.
  • Violation of this policy by an employee will result in appropriate personnel action up to and including dismissal.
  • Illegal conduct will be reported to law enforcement officials. The Superintendent shall include any incidents in the annual report of such incidents.