FSCC trustees to put conceal carry policy in place as exemption ends

The Fort Scott Community College Board of Trustees is grappling with a policy that will comply with the state conceal and carry law, but at the same time, protect students, faculty and staff.

Trustees learned during their meeting Monday FSCC President Alysia Johnston is continuing to work on a policy in relation to residence halls and other campus buildings.

Johnston recommended a committee be formed to address a policy. Robert Goltra, vice president of students, was asked to lead the committee. Trustee Chairman John Bartelsmeyer volunteered to be part of the committee. It was also agreed to have representation from the students and faculty and include someone from the Fort Scott Police Department and Bourbon County Sheriff's Office.

The college must have a policy in place before July 1, when its exemption from the Kansas Personal and Family Protection Act expires. Many public entities filed for an exemption to allow more time to consider what security measures could feasibly be implemented. During the exemption, weapons have not been allowed in FSCC buildings.

"If we do not secure every single entrance with an armed guard and metal detectors, then you have to allow conceal and carry," Johnston said. "Obviously that would be cost prohibitive, so that's not an option."

She said the Kansas Board of Regents has been communicating with the State of Kansas Office of Attorney General to get a clarification of how the statute applies to colleges and universities.

Dr. Blake Flanders, president and CEO of the board of regents, has asked if the laws allow a state university or college to prohibit conceal carry into buildings that have restricted access with a university issue ID or any type of key card.

"The answer to that was no, because basically...you can have employees have a restricted entrance but it has to be an employee that has been pre-screened," Johnston said.

Another question posed to the AG's office was whether there could there be a requirement that weapons be in a holster or the hammer be on an empty chamber.

Johnston said the answer to this question was yes.

She said leasing a building or the fact that the campus sometimes hosts elementary or secondary students does not count as an exemption beyond 2017.

"Even the schools that have daycare, that doesn't allow them to take an exemption beyond 2017," Johnston said.

Even though Kansas no longer requires permits to carry weapons, the carrier must be at least age 21. The majority of FSCC students living in the dorms are younger than 21. On the other hand, faculty members are eligible to conceal carry, "and this will have a greater effect on them," Johnston said.

Goltra said he would be attending meetings this week where he would get more information on the law as it pertains to college campuses.

Johnston provided trustees with draft policies from Johnson County Community College and Butler Community College.

"Whether we believe in it (the law) or not, it's past that," Johnston said. "We will have conceal carry come July 1. We need to make sure we have the best policy that we can come up with for Fort Scott Community College and our students."

She recommended a policy be in place by March so it can be included in student handbooks.

Other business

* The board approved the consent agenda, which included the separation of duties for Bailey Lyons, director of development, effective Jan. 7.

* Jason Simon, director of information technology, presented trustees with a quote to upgrade the computer network speed for the Harley-Davidson program. Simon said the current network, 1MBPS, is not large enough to handle changes in the online curriculum.

He also said the network being used at the Fort Scott campus is 100 MBPS, but will also need to be expanded in the future.

Kanren of Lawrence provided a quote of $14,575, which includes a one-time cost of $1,000 for installation. The upgrade would provide a 50 MBPS fiber circuit.

The board unanimously approved the upgrade.

* The board also approved a $158,500 three-year lease-purchase agreement for a 2017 Ford F750 40-passenger shuttle bus from Master's Transportation. The monthly payment will be $2,900. The shuttle will be used to transport large groups, eliminating the need for multiple vans traveling to the same destination.

Coach Master's of Kearney, Neb. submitted a bid of $5,370 per month, or $64,440 annually, for three years; for a 2016 Turtle Top Odyssey XLT.

Julie Eichenberger, vice president of finance and operations, presented the quotes to the board.