{"id":43,"date":"2026-05-14T15:36:22","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T15:36:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movingtoalaskausa.com\/?p=43"},"modified":"2026-05-14T15:36:22","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T15:36:22","slug":"alaska-school-district-considers-allowing-teachers-and-staff-to-carry-handguns-at-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movingtoalaskausa.com\/?p=43","title":{"rendered":"Alaska school district considers allowing teachers and staff to carry handguns at work"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

The Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District is scheduled to consider a proposal that would pay teachers, staff and contractors to carry handguns at schools in the borough.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more The state of Alaska could spend nearly $200 million on oil exploration, leasing in Arctic refuge<\/a><\/p>\n

The move, billed as a security measure, would be the first of its kind by a school district in Alaska.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Current state law<\/span> forbids anyone from carrying a concealed firearm on school grounds without the permission of a district\u2019s chief administrative officer.<\/span><\/p>\n

Board Policy 3515, as the concept is formally known, would set up a formalized policy for the Mat-Su school district\u2019s superintendent to grant that permission. It <\/span>is scheduled for initial discussion Wednesday evening<\/span>. No vote is expected.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As written, <\/span>the draft policy<\/span> proposes that the district will pay a stipend to \u201ccertain qualified individuals to carry a concealed handgun (including other authorized non-lethal <\/span>security device) on school property in accordance with the provisions of this policy.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The draft goes on to state that \u201cparticipating authorized individuals will receive a stipend for this additional duty.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It does not state how much the district will pay participants, but that the stipend is expected to cover mandatory training and not a handgun, holster or ammunition.<\/span><\/p>\n

The proposal is similar to <\/span>a bill<\/span> proposed by former Sen. Shelley Hughes, R-Palmer, last year. That legislation did not advance, and Hughes has since resigned from the Legislature to run for governor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more State prosecutors ask to delay new election misconduct trial for former Alaska legislator<\/a><\/p>\n

If adopted as written, interested staff would be required to undergo safety training, a physical, a psychological evaluation and random drug and alcohol screening.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThis policy change is driven first and foremost by a commitment to student and staff safety,\u201d the district said in <\/span>a description<\/span> of the proposed policy.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Mat-Su school district covers an area the size of West Virginia. North of Anchorage, it is the state\u2019s second-largest, with 19,518 students in the 2024-2025 school year, according to <\/span>state figures<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cIn many of our schools, particularly those in geographically large or remote areas, immediate access to law enforcement may be limited. This policy recognizes that reality and seeks to responsibly bridge that gap in emergency response time,\u201d the description states.<\/span><\/p>\n

Under the text of the policy, the list of employees approved to carry handguns will be kept secret.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cAny employee who discloses the identity of an authorized individual \u2014 except as permitted by this policy or as required by law \u2014 may be subject to disciplinary action, up to and including <\/span>Termination,\u201d the policy states.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Alaska Legislature formalizes rules for physician assistants working within the state<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

State law allows schools superintendents to grant permission for teachers and staff to carry guns; the new policy would set up a system.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":42,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-43","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education"],"yoast_head":"\nAlaska school district considers allowing teachers and staff to carry handguns at work - Moving to Alaska<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/movingtoalaskausa.com\/?p=43\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Alaska school district considers allowing teachers and staff to carry handguns at work - 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