OHIO RECENTLY APPROVED THE PURCHASE OF TWO $78,000 "MOBILE SHOOT HOUSES" TO TRAIN ARMED STAFF AT SCHOOLS: DAVID RIEDMAN

Ohio recently approved the purchase of two $78,000 "mobile shoot houses" to train armed staff at schools. The idea for this tactical teacher training comes as 77 school districts in Ohio now allow staff to be armed on campus.

For those in education who are unfamiliar with military and SWAT training, a mobile shoot house is a modular structure of wall panels that can be setup to simulate the inside of a house for police to practice moving through as a team.

This purchase in Ohio comes at the same time when Oregon school districts have announced $10-30 million budget shortfalls that will require cutting school security, librarians, and music programs. It’s not like there is surplus money in Ohio, Cleveland Public Schools have a $140 million budget deficit and Akron Public Schools are projecting $16 million in cuts for 2025. School districts across Ohio are already operating in the red.

Where is the money coming from to purchase this equipment and why is a shoot house being prioritized ahead of budget shortfalls? What’s the long-term plan for sustainment of this purchase and why aren’t the millions of dollars in labor to use these products part of the original state budget line?

Buying a product just for a press release and media coverage is "security theater" not school safety. There is no feasible way that these two shoot houses have a positive impact on improving school safety in Ohio.