Excerpts:
WICHITA FALLS — One year ago, David Thweatt made a decision so controversial and groundbreaking the story about it sped around the world.
The superintendent of the isolated Harrold Independent School District, about 30 miles northwest of here, made history last August when he and his school board decided to allow select teachers and staff members at the 110-student school to carry guns on campus — a first for Texas and the nation.
...
In the year since that historic decision, a gun was never brandished or fired at the school. There were no problems, Thweatt said.
...
A deputy had peered inside and “saw something in the walls and windows and called for backup,” Thweatt said. “They made it to the abandoned house in 15 minutes. We had figured it would take 18 to 20 minutes in a typical situation.”
Had that been an armed intruder at his school, response time would have been too slow.
...
Harrold students, who grew up on ranches and in the middle of the North Texas gun culture, were unperturbed by the school district’s new gun policy.
“The kids just laughed about it,” Thweatt said.
...
According to Barbara Williams with the Texas Association of School Boards, Harrold remains the only Texas school district with a guns-on-campus policy.
...
... She was even called by the Dr. Phil show, who asked her to help plan a show on the topic because they were so fascinated by it. She refused.
To her, it was so obvious as to be a non-issue. Dr. Phil, who claims to be a Texan, should know that, she said.
...
