LTHS Union Weighs In On Guns In Classrooms

La Grange IL

30 November, 2021

8:34 AM

Description

LA GRANGE, IL — The Lyons Township High School teachers union has a clear position on whether the state should let school districts arm teachers: It said it is strongly against. "It makes no sense to stop gun violence by adding more guns," Andrew Johannes, president of the Lyons Township Education Association, told the school board earlier this month. "We are hopeful for common sense to prevail." The Lyons Township High School board agreed with that position at an earlier meeting, though member Jill Beda Daniels said each school district should make the decision for itself. The board was discussing the topic in preparation for the annual state school boards association conference, held a couple of weekends ago in Chicago. A downstate school district urged the association to endorse allowing school districts to arm teachers. The association voted 202-181 against the proposal. On another issue, Johannes said the school's technology has improved. In October, he told the board that the technology was a "major disappointment" this school year, saying it hurt instruction. At the recent meeting, though, he said, "With the upgrade of broadband, there has been a much better experience for teachers and students."