After recent school shooting, commissioners ask what county can do to help harden schools and improve training

A county commissioner raised a recent mass shooting and asked fellow commissioners to consider concrete steps Reno County could take to reduce future risks, saying the county must examine what it can reasonably do beyond directing schools and law enforcement.

The commissioner said sheriff’s leadership has suggested three priorities: hardening buildings (limited access and secured doors), mapping school interiors so law enforcement can find rooms quickly, and training staff. He suggested the county and school districts consider a shared school-safety officer position funded jointly (schools pay half, county pays half) to advise on hardening, egress mapping and training.

"What can we do as a county to help make a difference?" the commissioner asked. He proposed starting a focused review over the next year to determine feasible county roles, emphasizing the need to balance resources across larger and smaller school districts.

Commissioners discussed next steps including meeting with the sheriff to gather documentation, drafting a list of common questions for the sheriff’s office, and considering a planned discussion next week on sheriff overtime and resource allocations. No formal policy or budget change was adopted at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to collect information and return with possible options.