Montezuma County Commissioners Offer Sympathy--But No Funding--for School Safety

Representatives of the Montezuma-Cortez Re-1 School District asked the Montezuma county commissioners Monday for their support in helping schools improve security. School board President Sherri Wright and human-resources director Dan Porter said they understand that the county is strapped financially, but said they would appreciate any help it could provide. The sprawling district has just two resource officers, one sheriff’s deputy and one Cortez Police officer to serve its many schools. Commissioner Keenan Ertel asked whether the district is considering arming teachers on a voluntary basis. Wright said it is doing a survey to assess parents’ attitudes toward that idea and others, but said firearms training costs $10,000 per individual. The commissioners were sympathetic but made no commitment to contribute financially.