ST. CLAIR, Mo. (KMOX) — When classes begin in the St. Clair R-13 school district next week, some teachers and staff members will be carrying weapons.
It's one of the latest districts to arm employees in an effort to prevent a school shooting. St. Clair school officials approved the new policy in May.
They're not saying who is armed or even how many, but Superintendent Kyle Kruse says each one has gone through over 40 hours of training, a psychiatric evaluation and ongoing drug screening.
There are also signs on the school buildings that staff members are armed and will use whatever force necessary to protect students.
"Our hope that this is a deterrent to anyone who would want to harm children," Kruse told KMOX's Brian Kelly. "And if we can keep such an event from even starting in the first place, I think we're all better off."
Kruse says parents have been quite supportive of the move and while some staff members said they did not want to take part, they had more applicants than they eventually chose.