Weapons detection system being installed in Schenectady HS
SCHENECTADY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -- The Schenectady City School District recently implemented its new policy for a weapons detection system for some of their schools. The district is moving forward with their weapons detection system starting with the high school. “We're going to start here at the high school and then work our way to the middle schools. And the goal here is our middle schools will have this implemented by the end of next month,” said Schenectady City School District Superintendent, Dr. Carlos Cotto Jr.
The school district’s Chief Safety Officer, Jeff Russo said, “This was not a knee-jerk reaction. He went on to explain, “We did a lot of background, a lot of research. I came to the conclusion that we really needed to have a bag scanner to go with an air scanner, like a metal detector because I felt like one without the other, didn't do the full job.”
And the superintendent agreed, adding that financially it made sense, too. He tells NEWS10’s Reporter, James De La Fuente, “The overall cost right now is a little over $600,000,” 90 percent of that cost he says was covered by a grant.
To which Russo said, “The district has to come up with approximately $55,000 per year to put all this in place.”
With the systems up and running, the NEWS10 Crew had to test the system and see how it worked, for themselves. Once the scan was complete, they learned the scan would reveal images in different colors. Because some folks see things differently. “Taking out this low-density material and leaving only high-density materials so we can just fixate on hard edges. You know, carbon, steel, the stuff that most weapons are part of as well,” said a vendor with the new weapons detection system.
And just so everyone is on the same page, the school district did send out an email to parents on the allowed items. They include some everyday items like cell phones, Chromebooks, Stanley cups and umbrellas, among other things. On the not allowed list are some more obvious things like guns, knives, illegal drugs, and vapes.
Russo says this not about discipline but its more about getting to know the concerns of the community and why the kids might need these items on their person. He gave the example of a child feeling compelled to bring a knife on their walk to school because the neighborhood may not be safe. However, some things need to be reported to law enforcement.
“There are going to be two opportunities in the lobby, one on each side for kids to get rid of anything that they know they shouldn't have. That way they have their opportunity.” Russo went on to explain, “You know, we can't allow them to just throw out illegal items. If you had a gun, if you had brass knuckles, if you had mace, those things aren't allowed by law.”
Students will be required to bring their school identification cards with them each day until they learn more about process.
Students will have the opportunity to learn about the new system on Monday and Tuesday before full implementation of the new system begins on Wednesday, Jan. 8.
The school board voted to install the detection system in response to safety issues concerns from students and parents. Police responded to multiple fights in the first few weeks of the school year, including one that involved a knife and sent two students to the hospital.