An unplanned discussion about a proposal to create a McComb School District police department included an argument between two school board trustees Tuesday night.
Trustee Lynn Martin first sought to amend the meeting agenda to create the police department, but that died for lack of a second. Her next motion to amend the agenda to discuss a handbook for the proposed police unit won board approval.
Board president Kizzy Coney, who has criticized Martin in the past, complained that Martin has created a private Facebook page where, “She calls me out and says I am the only one stopping this from happening. That is a lie.”
Coney said she does have reservations about a school police department and has discussed her concerns with Superintendent Dr. Cederick Ellis. She added, “I don’t feel we should approve a handbook when you don’t have a department.”
Martin responded, “Because I am an American, I can put out whatever I choose to.” Coney then began talking as well, and Martin demanded, “Did I interrupt you? Did I interrupt you?”
Martin said McComb’s campuses are open, enabling outsiders or students themselves to cause trouble. She said the district’s current security officers do not carry firearms, and she wants to put something in place to allow them to do their job.
“The world we’re in is changing, and our schools are not designed” for full protection from threats of violence, Martin said. “It looks to me as if we’re waiting until someone is shot and killed.”
Coney responded that security director Marcus Gatlin and other security officers on staff who are certified police officers do carry a gun in schools. She repeated that approving a handbook before creating a police department is “doing all this backward,” and she asked where the district would find the money to hire more officers this year so that each school building has one of its own.
Ellis confirmed that the district’s goal is to have a school resource officer at each campus for the 2022-23 year.
Ellis said that at least two current security officers are certified to carry a weapon in school buildings.
Ellis said Gatlin has been out sick recently, but wants to make sure that the community is involved in the decision to create the school police department. Ellis said Gatlin also wants parents to know what the department’s authority will be before it gets set up.
Board attorney Kashonda Day said, “I would think you want Officer Gatlin here to answer any questions you may have.”
With that, Coney and trustees Angela Bates and Betsy Murrell voted to table the issue until the board’s April meeting. Martin opposed and Eliece Rayborn was not at the meeting.
