Perry Township high schools to start using weapons detector | #hacking | #aihp

Perry Township high schoolers will have to enter school every day through a weapons detection system starting next school year as the district tries to prevent weapons from entering school campuses.

The Perry Township school board unanimously approved the nearly $1.5 million purchase of a new concealed weapons detection system Monday at a special board meeting.

The detection system is not like typical metal detector systems in that students can walk through it without having to take off their backpacks or anything else. Administrators expect it to be a seamless process to find potential hidden weapons without creating long wait lines.

Perry Township Associate Superintendent Chris Sampson told reporters after Monday’s meeting that no particular incident in the high schools pushed the district to buy the new detection system.

More on school saftey:What you need to know about Decatur Township’s new clear backpack policy

“I think we all are not blind to the increase in violence in our neighborhoods and our communities, and we just want to take that next step and to secure our campuses to make sure that our students and staff have a safe environment,” Sampson said.

Last November a Southport High School student was found to have brought in a weapon to school after a random restroom search was conducted, according to WTHR. Neighboring Decatur Township school district is now enacting a clear backpack policy for all its students starting next school year to limit weapons from being brought into schools.