Spirit Lake, IA (KICD)– The Spirit Lake School Board has rescinded what has been a controversial piece of its safety plan due to an issue with insurance.

The board voted four to zero on a resolution Thursday night that will do away with a mention within the safety plan to allow up to ten non-teaching staff members to carry a concealed firearm after receiving a notice from the district’s insurance carrier in May indicating Spirit Lake Community School no longer met “underwriting guidelines” and that the existing policy would not be renewed as of July 1st.

Prior to the official notification, the district’s local agent Bill Cochran-Bray began the search for a new carrier only to find the firearm authorization piece was not the only issue the industry was having.

As a result, the board was given the recommendation to rescind the action that passed unanimously in the Fall.

Board President Teresa Beck added that while this is not the action the board was wanting, this is the direction it has to go right now since there is not a new viable option in the market offering full insurance needs to the district.

It reads “The District’s implemented solution was based on math, time and real statistical data demonstrating the sooner an active shooter is addressed, the more innocent lives are saved.” The statement continues by saying, ” In the horrific event we have an active shooter in our district, what would you want- a highly trained individual who is present, capable and willing to step in quickly or to wait the minutes will take for a dispatched responder to arrive?”

The district also notes the underwriting guidelines are now met based on the action taken Thursday and its existing insurance provider will reinstate coverage.