Students stand in line, waiting to enter Riverside High School on Nov. 14, 2024, the first day of a security pilot program featuring metal detectors at the school.
It’s been more than two months since Kanawha County Schools ended the levy-funded weapons detection pilot program at Riverside High School.
In the beginning, school officials did not indicate student slowdowns through the machines were a major issue. However, on the first day of the program on Nov. 14, the Gazette-Mail reported Riverside’s 1,050 students didn’t all pass through the system until about 8:40 a.m., making some as much as 15 minutes late to their first class. Then-Communications Director Briana Warner said it would take time and adjustments to get students through quicker.
Students stand in line, waiting to enter Riverside High School on Nov. 14, 2024, the first day of a security pilot program featuring metal detectors at the school.
Courtesy photo
Administrators brought a second detection unit to the school later that month to accommodate the volume of students. The system ultimately did not allow students to pass through quickly enough, even with further instruction from staff members to students on what items would not pass through the machines.
There was another security system tested during the school year, according to KCS Communications Director Chris Williams; however, the same issues persisted.
At the Kanawha BOE’s March 18 budget meeting, Superintendent Tom Williams said the district was looking for a new solution since, “the security detection [systems] aren’t doing what they are advertised to do.â€
“We will have to look at other areas in safety and security ... because it’s just taking too long to get kids into the building,†Tom Williams said.
In early October, the Kanawha BOE approved a contract with for $826,650 to be used for nine weapons detection systems.
The money for this project was to come from excess levy funds, which allotted $2.7 million for safety and security improvements across the district, including weapon detection systems in schools, secure entrances at every school that does not have one, and additional security team staff.
Chris Williams said KCS paid Athena Security for neither the weapons detection system nor the equipment removal.
Athena Security initially planned to charge the school system restocking fees, which led the district to consider a lawsuit. However, an agreement was worked out between KCS and the vendor without a lawsuit.
Officials indicated at the March 18 BOE meeting that safety features like security wands and upgraded surveillance are currently being researched. However, KCS does not have a current timeline for when any changes will occur.
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