Lehighton Area School District directors voted Monday night to approve the creation of a “High School Clay Target Club” following weeks of discussion that drew both support and one board member’s opposition.

The motion authorized the administration to establish the club once final approval is received from the district’s insurance carrier. All events will be held off site, and transportation will be provided by parties other than the district.

During the meeting, administrators explained requirements that must be met before the club begins operating. Those include background checks and clearances for coaches, hunter-trapper education certification for all student participants, and storage of all firearms and ammunition off district property.

“The insurance carrier was able to confirm there is no additional insurance cost to us,” Superintendent Jason Moser said Monday.

Other requirements include signed permission slips, liability waivers, a certificate of insurance from the host facility and adherence to range rules. Practices and competitions will be supervised by coaches at a ratio no higher than 1 to 10, with 1 to 5 preferred.

Personal protective equipment will also be mandatory.

Board members expressed differing views before the vote.

“I fully support having a club that promotes the Second Amendment of our Constitution,” LASD Director Duane Dellecker said. “It teaches proficiency in the use of firearms and the responsible use of them. I’m 100% behind this.”

Barbara Bowes, the only no vote among the seven directors participating in the meeting, disagreed.

“I can’t support this because of the number of school shootings that have occurred since Columbine,” she said. “I don’t believe that a school district should be promoting, endorsing or running any club like this. I don’t have any problem with shooting sports in general, but I can’t compromise my principles on this issue.”

Bowes added, “These kids went through COVID, the lockdowns, and all the learning loss that came with that. We’re pouring more money into mental health programs. I just can’t reconcile creating a shooting club at the same time.”

Other board members such as Jeremy Glaush argued that the program could have the opposite effect.

“Children being familiar with firearms, understanding them and respecting them, will be less likely to abuse them,” he said.

Prohibiting weapons, Dellecker opined, outright creates its own risks.

“Putting up a sign that says all weapons are prohibited attracts the nut jobs of the world,” he said. “I’d rather see a sign that says staff are heavily armed and trained, and any attempt to harm children will be met with deadly force.”

The proposal originated at the district’s workshop meeting earlier this month, when parent and proposed coach Jerome Scarpati introduced the idea of forming a team affiliated with the USA Clay Target League. Practices and competitions would be hosted by Blue Mountain Sporting Clays in Walnutport.

“They were really excited about the possibility of us coming there,” Scarpati told the board.

He emphasized the league’s safety record.

“The league has operated for 29 years without a single firearm-related accident,” he said. “In 2024, there were 14,000 new members nationwide. That brought the total membership to 54,000.”

Scarpati said participation would come at no cost to the district.

“We are not seeking or requiring any fee from the school,” he said. “I am not now, nor will I ever be, looking to be paid for this position — and neither are the three coaches who want to volunteer.”

He estimated the cost per student at $200 to $220 for the eight-week season, which covers ammunition, clay targets, facility fees, and a $40 registration fee. Each practice would consist of two 25-round courses.

“That is the absolute highest cost a kid would ever have to pay with no fundraising,” Scarpati said.

Local businesses have already pledged support, he added.

“We spoke to Cabela’s, we spoke to Walmart, we spoke to A.F. Boyer sporting goods,” Scarpati said. “Everyone expressed interest in supporting the team and helping with costs.”

The program is open to both boys and girls and is accessible for students with disabilities.

“A 12-year-old girl and an 18-year-old boy can shoot the same gun, at the same target, on the same course,” Scarpati said. “We don’t differentiate between anybody.”

Scarpati told the board that league participation offers benefits that independent shooting cannot.

“This gives kids an opportunity to feel like part of a team, just like the football or volleyball players do,” he said.

League recognition also makes it possible for students to letter in the sport and be included in the yearbook.

Scarpati also noted that clay target shooting is a recognized sport in other states and can lead to scholarships.

“There are extensive scholarship opportunities, not just for college, but also throughout the year at state tournaments,” he said.