Eunice Police Chief Randy Fontenot met with several school principals to discuss school safety issues including guns on campuses.
Before Thursday’s meeting in the council chambers, Fontenot said he had been appointed by Gov. John Bel Edwards to the Louisiana Blue Ribbon Commission on School Safety.
“I at least need input of local school officials,” he said about the meeting.
As talking points, Fontenot led the group through bills before the Legislature.
One bill, which as been signed into law by the governor, requires plans to provide parental notification in the event of a shooting or other violent incident or emergency situation.
Schools in Eunice have experienced bomb threats and last year there was a shooting incident near Eunice Elementary.
Fontenot said he prefers notifying parents after the situation is under control.
“When they find out what is going on they all rush the school. Now we are fighting traffic, trying to evacuate and we have all kinds of traffic,” he said.
Fontenot said he understands the parents’ concern, “but it really causes problems so I prefer notification after.”
The notification question led to a discussion about cell phone use by students.
Kristy McLemore, an assistant principal at Eunice High School, said students are allowed to have a cell phone in their pockets. “That is almost permission for them to use it,” she said.
Ranolviaun Landry, prinicipal at Central Middle School, estimated there about 200 cell phones on campuses on any day, but they have not been a problem.
A student with a cell phone and text messaging created a problem at one Eunice school, Fontenot said. The student sent a text to his grandmother in the morning about an incident, but the grandmother didn’t get it until the afternoon. The grandmother called police, which resulted in fire and police units making another trip to the school.
Another bill requires reporting threats of violence to law enforcement and mandates mental health evaluations for those making threats.
Jessica Tezeno, a juvenile officer, said there are opportunities for professional evaluations that can paid for through Medicaid or by other arrangements.
Fontenot said the legislation leaves a question about the required reporting, but the principals, without a vote, seemed to side on having children who makes threats be reported and evaluated.
“You should know your students and what is going on,” Fontneot said. “You would know which ones to wonder about.”
Legislators sent a bill to the govenor allowing bull-resistant backpacks.
Fontenot said it is illegal for students to have body armor, but the legislation allows an exception for the backpacks.
McLemore said clear backpacks are required at the high school. “Now we are going to allow them to carry bullet proof so it is not clear mesh anymore? So, how are we going to know what they are carrying in it?” she said.
Fontenot said the bill is an example of a bill written out of emotion without thinking the issue through. He suggested the principals call their legislators or associations with their concerns.
Perhaps the most time was spent on the question of whether teachers or other school employees should be allowed to carry guns on campuses.
Glendale Elementary Principal said children have an ability to get a hold of almost everything in school.
McLemore said, “That’s a huge responsibility. I’m not a gun person and I think I would have to make a split decision with a child that I know. To me that is a huge responsibility for teachers,” she said.
Casey Comeaux, an assistant principal at Eunice Junior High School, said, “Something happens. The teacher pulls the gun out and nothing is really happening. We are on the news ‘Teacher pulls gun on kids.’”
St. Edmund High Principal Charles Hazard said he has been thinking about the concealed gun issue.
“I feel comfortable with a gun. I’d rather have one knowing I can fight to save myself and everybody around than hoping someone comes to save us.”
Gina LaGrange, East Elementary principal, said she worries about an adult showing up on campus with a grievance and a gun.
Fontenot said if school employees are allowed to carry concealed weapons, they may face the same requirements are police officers, which includes annual qualifying with the weapon.
