The public and students won't know which teachers or staff members at Whitehouse ISD are carrying weapons, but protection of students against an armed intruder will ramp up as the district passed the Guardian Plan by a 4-0 vote Monday night.
Under the Guardian Plan, which is now in 304 districts in Texas, will allow any employee to carry, but outside of local authorities, the Whitehouse ISD board of education and the administration, but who carries will remain confidential.
There are 1,227 school districts in Texas, including charter schools. There are 12 districts that have passed the School Marshal Plan, which deputizes staff members and costs almost 15 times more per staff member to implement. Each teacher or staff member will have to have their personal gun approved and the cost is about $1,200 per employee for training and certification.
Read more from our newspaper partners the Tyler Morning Telegraph.