Tamaqua hopes for new gun policy

Tamaqua School Board President Larry Wittig predicts a new safety policy for schools should be formed by May.

After the controversy surrounding the Tamaqua Area School Board during its quest to form a policy to arm staff, the district formed a safety commission last year.

To date, the committee has met four times, to have proactive discussions about the best way to keep the district safe.

The committee features first responders, board members, teachers and parents.

“I think that the committee was a good idea and it was a valuable exercise,” said Wittig. “All voices were heard and we certainly don’t agree on one thing, but I think a majority of us do … The way this works is, the recommendations will be put forth to the safety committee, which will then be put forth to the board. After that, the policy will start being crafted based on what the board feels what recommendations we will undertake.”

Wittig said January’s safety meeting will likely be the last. The language has shifted during the safety committee meetings. Instead of arming “staff,” arming the right “personnel” has been discussed; someone else in the building, not a teacher, who has proper training to carry.

“I can’t speak for what the committee or what the board will decide, but I would think there will be a component with armed personnel in the building. … We will make a policy unchallengeable in terms of the law, we’re going to take a lot of things into consideration I’m sure in regard to entryways and things we’ve talked about. We’ll put a price tag to it, and what we can do, we can do.”

Last January, a group of parents filed a lawsuit against the district over Policy 705, which was the initial policy created by the district. The policy was suspended and eventually rescinded. In July, Gov. Tom Wolf signed Senate Bill 621, which seemed to officially bury 705.

There have been countless groups formed and public hearings in front of the board from those against arming staff. The situation was at peak intensity in November with two vacant seats on the school board, and Wittig’s current term up.

A team of opposing Democrats, who are publicly against arming staff ran against Wittig and his team. The result was that Wittig, a Republican, was re-elected, and two new Republicans were also voted in.

“The primary may have been somewhat more of an indicator of arming staff as a viable deterrent or means of protecting students,” said Wittig.

“But I think the general election was more on the competency or fiscal responsibility of the people running. At that point, 705 was off the table. I don’t think the general election represented 705; the public certainly understood that one set of candidates was clearly more prepared to deal with the challenges of the school districts than another set of candidates.”