Dove Creek schools to arm administrators: Superintendent, principal double as security officers

The Cortez Journal ^ | February 8, 2013 | Luke Groskopf and Michael Maresh

[2ndDivisionVet]

The seven-member board that oversees schools in Dolores County voted to allow the Dove Creek High School principal and district superintendent to carry firearms onto school grounds at a Wednesday night meeting in Dove Creek.

School District Re-2J includes Rico, but administrative offices and almost all the students are located in Dove Creek. Together, the sparsely populated county has only 260 students.

The board voted unanimously to let the two administrators function, in effect, as security officers provided they complete a concealed carry weapons course, receive a permit from the county sheriff's office and satisfy additional training qualifications.

The handgun course will be taught today and Sunday by Howard Miller, an instructor with Centurion Firearms Training in Dove Creek.

Superintendent Bruce Hankins wasn't sure of the logistics of further requirements but said it might involve both the Dolores County Sheriff's Office and Colorado State Patrol.

Sheriff Jerry Martin was out of the office and not available for comment Friday.

Hankins and Principal Ty Gray won't receive a pay raise for taking on the extra responsibility, but because a monetary contract is required by law, their "salaries" for the security positions are one dollar each...

[2ndDivisionVet]

More and more school districts will do this.

[Blue Collar Christian]

As they should. It’s refreshing to see that not everyone has drank the Koolaid.

[Stonewall Jackson]

Very good news. Yes, it’s a small community, but we have to start somewhere. Maybe this will get the ball rolling.

[Ken H]

Good. I’ll take trained staff members over today’s cops any day.