Bigfork teachers against pepper spray

Pepper spray was donated to the Bigfork School District last month, but the teachers surveyed about the donation weren’t in favor of keeping it.

“I would say most of the teachers would not like to have it,” Bigfork High School Principal Matt Porrovecchio said.

There are no prohibitions against using or carrying pepper spray in public schools, but the board of trustees wanted to hear the faculty’s views before accepting the donation.

As an inflammatory agent, the board wanted to devlop a policy for which staff members would have access to it and what level of training they would need if the faculty wanted it.

At the high school, 24 teachers responded to the survey with 11 against having pepper spray in school. Over 80 percent of BHS staff had problems with other staff members carrying pepper spray, and 54 percent wouldn’t feel safer with it.

One of the survey responders asked if the school would be liable if the pepper spray got into the hands of a student.

Reactions were similar at Bigfork Elementary School, according to Principal Matt Jensen. Five BES teachers were OK with having pepper spray, six didn’t like the idea and there was one “emphatic no.”

Last month, Bigfork School District Superintendent Cynthia Clary said the donation was made for the elementary school in particular in the wake of the school shooting in Newtown, Conn. as the process of ordering pepper spray for the school would take an extended period of time.

Although pepper spray wasn’t popular with the staff, the board is in the process of looking for ways to improve the schools’ overall safety in addition to preparing for if an emergency similar to Newtown’s occurs.

Trustee Mike Roessmann suggested forming a committee dedicated to inspecting the campus for safety hazards that could result in injury. Maintenance Director Mike McGill said there is a prioritized list of repairs being done.

“It’s the little stuff that adds up,” Roessmann said. “It just seems like it is bottomless.”

One of Roessmann’s concerns was about participants at the recent health screening at BES who were found wandering through the hallways looking for the right room while classes were in session. Signs were posted outside, but some entered through the main entrance without seeing it and didn’t check in at the front desk.

Clary said staff often recognizes frequent visitors and already know why they are there.

“Is it a prison or a school?” Clary said. “That is the dilemma.”

other District news:

• The state golf tournament will be held at Eagle Bend on May 21-22.

• There are two trustee positions up for election this year. The deadline to apply is March 28 and candidates must live within the BES district.

• The next board meeting is currently scheduled for March 6, however the state basketball tournament is March 7-9 in Butte so the date could be changed.