LONE TREE, Colo. — Ascent Classical Academies in Douglas County has been clear with its message from the very beginning: They want their teachers and staff to be armed at school.
"We don't want to just be passive and not be able to respond to a shooter or an active threat to our school community," said Derec Shuler, the director of Ascent Classical Academies. "Our parents want a school that is willing to put all options on the table to make sure their kids come home safe every day."
The charter school's decision to part ways with the Douglas County School District back in September was mutual.
But earlier this year, during a state school safety committee hearing at the Colorado State Capitol, the Douglas County School Board Superintendent spoke out strongly against the idea of arming staff.
“We will fight tooth and nail if any school, whether it is a neighborhood school or a charter school, that decides to arm its teachers. If it’s a charter school, we are going to ask that they leave the Douglas County School District," Dr. Thomas Tucker said during the hearing.
At least 30 schools across the state have taken advantage of the state law permitting teachers to arm themselves.
Currently, the Colorado Charter School Institute is reviewing the charter school's transfer application.
They say they expect to have a final decision by next week.