The proposal was sponsored by School Board members Laura Jane Cohen (Springfield District) and Karl Frisch (Providence District).
“We must ensure that, as a school system, we are doing all we can to protect our students and staff from the horrors of gun violence. We know that students are in homes containing firearms regularly, whether it is their own home or the homes they visit,” said Cohen. “It is critically important that we provide students with the tools they need in these situations and alert parents to their crucial role in keeping children safe.”
“Late last year, Fairfax County Public Schools finally joined dozens of other school divisions with its commitment to educate parents about their legal responsibility to securely store firearms — one of the best tools we have to protect children from gun violence,” said Frisch.
In 2021, the Virginia General Assembly passed a new law granting school boards the authority to prohibit individuals from possessing firearms on property owned or leased by the school system, excluding “certain individuals such as law-enforcement officers and qualified retired law-enforcement officers.”
Superintendent Scott Brabrand agreed to implement a proposal from Cohen and Frisch that requires the school division to notify parents and guardians annually about their legal obligations under Virginia’s new secure firearm storage law, why secure storage is essential, and other ways to prevent gun violence or seek help for a child who could be a threat to themselves or others.
https://go.boarddocs.com/vsba/fairfax/Board.nsf/goto?open&id=C54FF23ED870