June 16, 2022
Dear Kenston Families,
As you are likely aware, on June 13, 2022, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine signed House Bill 99 into law, which allows an employee of a school district to voluntarily be armed within the employing district’s school safety zone. This law will become effective on September 12, 2022. This legislation establishes the Ohio School Safety and Crisis Centers and Ohio Mobile Training Team to develop curriculum and provide instruction and training, including firearms training not to exceed 24 hours and up to eight hours of requalification training annually, to school employees seeking to be armed in a school safety zone.
There are many factors to consider associated with HB 99 including staff training, school liability insurance and changes to school district policy. At this time, the topic of arming school personnel in the Kenston Schools under this legislation is not being considered. We do not have plans to arm teachers at Kenston.
Kenston’s Safety Committee continues to collaborate with our local safety forces. We have a strong working relationship with the Bainbridge Police Department, our Kenston Resource Officers (KRO) security detail and the Geauga County Sheriff’s Department. They are critical to our robust and comprehensive district and school building safety plans.
Sincerely,
Nancy R. Santilli
Superintendent