In the Bradford Area School District, at least five threats or rumors of threats prompted reactions in the two weeks following a Florida school shooting that left 17 people dead.

No one was hurt, but it leaves many in the Bradford community wondering if more should be done. Among the ideas being talked about in the national conversation on school security is the idea of arming teachers or staff.

What are local school officials’ thoughts on school security?

“In light of the recent school shooting, we’ve actually been pretty proud of our students and community for reporting anything they think are threats,” said Shane Oschman, president of the Bradford Area School Board, noting they have been “very diligently” taking each threat seriously.

Oschman is pleased with the response of police, first responders and school officials, too.

But, he added, “There’s always more that we can do for security.”

“The board will be talking in the future about anything we can do to improve the security in the buildings (at) any one of our campuses.”

Oschman said there are regular meetings on a district level and board to discuss security, and he expects that now they will be taking another look at security. He could not say what changes could be in store.

“From a security measure standpoint, we continue to make strides each year, but we know there are other things we can do,” Oschman said.

For now, the district takes every threat seriously, and for every drill they hold, they use it as an opportunity to keep improving.

School board member Dave Feely, who is a retired Bradford City police officer, shared his own thoughts on school security with The Era. He stressed that these were his personal feelings and not those of the school district at large.

In light of recent school shootings, Feely would like to see increased security.

“I’m at least for armed guards at our school,” Feely said, adding, “I look at it like this: I don’t know that you can keep all the bad out of the schools, but try to keep the bad at the door if at all possible.”

Feely would like to see more school resource officers, but knows it probably isn’t financially feasible. Guards would be a more economic solution, he said, noting schools “probably can get two or three armed security guards for the price of one cop.”

He said people such as retired cops and veterans would make good security guards and suggested applicants could be asked to pass a psychology test before being hired.

Regarding the possibility of arming teachers, he felt that would be a good option if other security measures were not available for reasons such as cost. He suggested there could be “very secure areas in the school” where firearms can be accessed for trained teachers.

In the event of an attack in a school, whether teachers are prepared or not, “You are the last line of defense,” he said.

“In my opinion, we already have people in the building who are already being paid,” said Feely.

He said arming teachers — as well as staff, custodians or administrators — should be a totally volunteer program for those willing to go through a training program.

Feely added he has no interest in making anyone carry a firearm who doesn’t want to, saying he understands teachers were hired to one job: teach.

“In a perfect world right now, I would love to have armed security at the door of every one of our four schools,” as well as other schools in the area.

“There’s a lot of people who don’t agree,” said Feely, but said it’s one resolution, unless somebody can step forward with a better answer on how to protect students.

“That’s the path to protect our children, period. End of story.”

Conversely, the Pennsylvania State Education Association, which represents teachers in the state, has come out against arming teachers, though the organization is not opposed to having armed security in general.

“PSEA does support the use of appropriately trained and armed school resource officers as part of a comprehensive local school safety plan,” stated Wythe Keever, PSEA assistant communications director.

However, he added, “PSEA opposes proposals to arm teachers with guns in schools.”

According to Keever, the association believes arming teachers will cause more danger to students than security.

He said, “There are a number of reasons for our opposition, but here are three: (1) the primary role of teachers is to be educators and role models, not to be law enforcement officers; (2) training for the use of deadly force in an active shooter situation, according to law enforcement officials, must be extensive and ongoing; (3) teachers with their own personal weapons in schools during an active shooter situation would cause delay and confusion for first responders, who could not immediately distinguish between an armed perpetrator and an armed teacher.”

In a recent op-ed jointly authored by PSEA President Dolores McCracken, along with the executive directors of the PA Principals Association, PA School Boards Association and the PA Association of School Administrators, Pennsylvania school officials talked more about why they see armed teachers as a hazard.

“We recognize that many educators are responsible, law-abiding gun owners,” the op-ed stated. “But there is a clear difference between knowing how to use and care for a firearm and knowing how to use it like a first responder or a soldier in an active shooting crisis.

“To expect that school staff members would ever be adequately trained, prepared, and available to respond like police officers is simply not realistic. In fact, it’s dangerous. It would give some people an illusion of safety. In reality, it would make our schools less safe,” it read.

The op-ed was published in the Harrisburg Patriot News/Pennlive.