Open carry weapon protocol discussed at Reese schools
By Stacey Tucker
Staff Writer
REESE — After the many recent school shootings, open carry gun protocol in schools has been a heated debate in many areas.
In order to have a policy in place, Reese Public Schools has worked alongside the Tuscola County prosecuting attorney to be ready in case someone shows up at a Reese Public School with a weapon.
“This remains a heated debate in Lansing,” said Reese Public Schools superintendent Keither Wetters. “This was given to us by the prosecuting attorney.”
Wetters said they are asking their six building secretaries to keep on the lookout for anyone with an open carry weapon.
“If someone would show up at our building with an open carry,” Wetters said. “If they ring our buzzer, our secretaries will see they have a weapon.”
Wetters then explained the secretaries will let the person at the door know they will be contacting 911. A police officer will come out and check they have a CPL license.
If they do, they will be escorted straight into the office and afterward be escorted back out of the school by a building administrator.
“This will not be true if a police officer shows up in uniform,” Wetters said.
School board member James Goka said during the discussion that the policy does not address athletic events.
“If it’s someone we know in the community that is law enforcement, we’ll just say thank you for being here,” Wetters said. “If they’re not, we’ll quietly ask them to come into the office.
“We’ll call law enforcement and have them check their CPL license.”
Stacey Tucker is the editor of the Reese Reporter. She can be reached at tucker@tcadvertiser.com.