Wednesday, October 27, 1999
Reading schools try to dispel furor
BY CHRISTINE WOLFF
The Cincinnati Enquirer
READING — The furor caused by comments about arming schoolteachers shouldn't derail the Reading school district from its goal of keeping students safe, board of education members say.
Board members emphasized Tuesday the arming- teachers comments were nothing more than how they always have been described: an idea tossed around in a brainstorming session.
“There at no time has been any recommendation to us to put any guns in classrooms,” board President Jim Perdue said. “Each one of us on the board — we do not want guns in our schools. But we do want to discuss what should be done ... because foremost, school safety is the issue.”
Mr. Perdue said he apologized to residents “that we didn't do this sooner,” and officially address the uproar over remarks made Oct. 15 by Superintendent John Varis. Mr. Perdue canceled two board meetings scheduled Monday and Oct. 21 when it appeared residents wanting to talk about the gun comments would overtake the agendas.
“In my opinion, (the comments) were blown out of proportion,” Mr. Perdue said.
The comments were made during an in-service session for Reading teachers led by self-defense expert Debbie Gardner. Mr. Varis invited Ms. Gardner to talk to teachers to discuss and demonstrate ways to survive a violent situation.
Mr. Varis later commented on the subject on local and national TV.
The board will schedule a special meeting to discuss school safety, Mr. Perdue said.
The board has asked Mr. Varis to continue looking into safety measures, including whether to stock school offices with bullet-proof vests, talking to police academy officials about training teachers to recognize types of gunshots and contacting school officials who have encountered violence.
“We want to know, "what have you learned?' and "what would you change because you have survived this?'” Mr. Perdue said.
Ms. Gardner said Reading is the first school district to ask for her help, and she described their interest as innovative.
“His challenge to me was so stimulating. He said, "The police might get there but can't come inside right away (in a school hostage situation). What can we do (to protect people inside)?'” she said.
She worked with teachers on weapons defense, emphasizing “that if the knife goes into your hand and not your chest, you're alive.”
Some Reading residents plan to meet 7:30 p.m. Thursday at the Haffey Field House, 1599 West St., to talk about Mr. Varis' comments and the canceled meetings.
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