Vinton, Va. – Books, pencils, and ballistic armor. That is the reality of today’s students.
“At first I was like, ‘This is crazy. I can’t even believe we’re looking at having a product like this,'” said Erin McKee, an employee of CW Armor in Vinton.
The company designs and sells panels made of bullet-proof material that easily fit into a backpack for students of all ages.
“Different weights, different shapes, different levels of protection, different price ranges,” McKee said.
McKee said there has been an increase in inquiries since Monday’s tragedy in Nashville.
“I think it’s becoming a necessity, like crayons and pencils and Chromebooks,” McKee said.
According to the latest data from the CDC, guns are the leading cause of death among children and adolescents in the US.
CW Armor also sells ballistic doors, shields and glass that are available for interested school districts.
“I just pray that doesn’t happen here,” said Radford City Public Schools Superintendent Robert Graham.
He said the district is looking at bulletproof glass and other technology to increase school safety, but the price tag has put it off.
“We just couldn’t afford it at the time. That doesn’t mean we won’t do it in the future,” said Graham. “It would be very helpful if we could receive more state and federal funding for security in our schools.”
The Commonwealth is ranked 40th in the country for school funding. And after a budgeting blunder earlier this year, Virginia schools are now $201 million short of state funding — an additional strain on already-straightened budgets.
McKee hopes the ballistic panels can serve as an extra layer of safety that students don’t have to use.
“What can we do to protect ourselves? And it’s something that’s easy to do,” McKee said.
He recommended that school districts work with their PTA, school boards, and local law enforcement agencies to raise money for additional security measures to help with costs.
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