Bloomfield-Mespo School District Approves Arming Personnel - 21 News Now, More Local News for Youngstown, Ohio -

BLOOMFIELD, Ohio - The recent massacre in Newtown, Connecticut has school districts reconstructing their safety plans.

At a special meeting Wednesday night, the Bloomfield-Mespo School Board approved a contract with the Trumbull County Sheriff's Office to have a resource officer on district grounds throughout the entire school day.

And in an even bigger step, the board approved an amendment "authorizing specified personnel" to carry a concealed firearm on the district's grounds.

"There will be people in the district and yes, it does go beyond the resource officer," said Superintendent Russell McQuaide.

McQuaide was reluctant to say who will be trained and armed in what he calls a "multi-layered safety plan."

"We want to keep the integrity of the safety plan," he explained. "If we let people know who in the district happens to be having a firearm, then those people can be targets in the district."

McQuaide says he doesn't want to tip off any of the district's strengths or weaknesses.

Ellen Vossler, a parent and cafeteria worker in the district, says she supports a safety plan that arms school staff.

"I know these people, they're responsible people and I trust them," Vossler said. "I would rather have that than have someone come into our school and us not be prepared. I just don't think that's a smart way to look at it."

Another worker in the district tells 21 News the plan is necessary. She explains that because the district is so remote - 17 miles from the sheriff's office to the Bloomfield high school and even further for other schools in the district - it may take law enforcement a long time to respond.