Lawmaker wants armed security in every South Dakota school

Decade after school sentinel legislation, few districts supplementing school resource officers

A state lawmaker wants a “good guy” with a firearm in all public schools in South Dakota.

School districts across the state could soon be required to have armed personnel in their buildings under a measure Sen. Brent Hoffman of Hartford will introduce during the upcoming Legislative Session in Pierre.

For the last decade, school boards have had the option to establish a sentinel — a teacher, staff member, or hired contractors — to provide armed security in their buildings. But fewer than 10 districts statewide have a designated sentinel today.

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