MEDINA, Texas – A Texas school district is sending a message to anyone thinking about harming students: think again.

The Medina Independent School District posted a sign in front of Medina Elementary School last week that explains exactly how seriously officials take the safety of the 303 students they’re entrusted to educate.

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“Attention,” the sign in front of the main entrance reads. “Please be aware that the staff at Medina ISD may be armed and will use whatever force is necessary to protect our students.”

Superintendent Penny White told KSAT that board members discussed the sign for a year before opting to post it in front of the school. Board members also authorized signs for the school’s other entrances to ensure everyone is properly warned before heading in.

“You never know if there’s a transient or someone who has zeroed in on harming a child,” White said.

Jillian Sides, who has two children in Medina schools, told KTRK she thinks the signs are a good idea.

“Schools have been a target for, for lack of a better word, crazy people, and I’m perfectly fine with it,” she said.

White said officials decided to put up the signs in part because a police response to the district could take nearly a half-hour.

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“We’re 20 minutes or 25 minutes from Bandera,” she said, “that’s our closest law enforcement.”

White believes the signs will not only help deter school shooters, but also others will ill intentions, such as parents embroiled in a custody battle who might attempt to pick up a student without permission.

“I think that anybody who might have a thought about harming someone in mind might think twice about it,” said White, who would not discuss whether staff are actually packing heat.

“We don’t divulge anything about our safety plan, because it would compromise the plan,” she said.

White said the district has yet to receive a single complaint about the signs.

“I have not had one negative comment,” she told KENS.

Alisha Reagan, mother of a Medina third grader, told KSAT she has mixed feelings about the signs.

“I don’t know if that’s asking for trouble or not,” she said. “I mean, you post a sign like that, it may bring trouble, unfortunately.”

Online, the idea seemed to receive universal praise.

“It’s about time,” Richard Levine posted to the Bandera Bulletin’s Facebook page. “I think it’s awesome, all schools should do the same thing,” Lacy Folmar added. “This is one school that kids will be safe from some nut job.”

“Awesome,” Devin Adkins added.

“Excellent! Hope that Seguin ISD adopts the same,” Margie Vera posted. “We need protection for our kids and our educators. Come on Texas … let’s take care of our own.”