LARGO, Fla. — Weapon detection systems are being used in all sorts of venues now, and Pinellas County Schools could be next.
On Tuesday, school board members discussed launching a pilot program to see how a weapon detection system may help improve security within the district.
Within the next month or so, the district will decide on whether to proceed with the pilot program. If it moves forward, the district would select two schools to put the weapon detection devices at, then see how it goes.
Pinellas County School Board members heard from the district’s chief operations officer and the director of safety and security, Sean Jowell, presenting their plans for a weapons detection pilot program.
“Technology that allows to alert our staff that someone may potentially have a weapon on their person before entering into one of our campuses across the district,” said Jowell.
Jowell said he visited Sarasota and Manatee County schools where similar weapons detection systems are already being used. While he didn’t say if this is exactly how they would look in Pinellas, Jowell did say the program runs very smoothly in those districts.
“To see that it was not intrusive, it allowed students to get to their classes for first bell, and still alert to certain objects that may or may not be a dangerous weapon coming onto campus gave us a greater sense that this technology may be a beneficial layer to our current security protocols, or it may not,” he said.
Board member Lisa Cane did question why now. “In past years, it was actually recommended not to do this, so you can let everyone know what has changed? What is the primary reason for the change that it is now a recommendation, and what do we think we’ll gain as a district because of this?” she asked.
Jowell said advances in technology have calmed previous concerns — such as using artificial intelligence to determine exactly which area on a person something is detected. Ultimately, he said this is all about adding an extra layer of protection.
“The schools are not ever going to look or feel like a prison, but we want to do as much as we can to ensure that they are going to school and coming home every afternoon,” said Jowell.
If the district moves forward with the pilot program, two schools would be selected to test them out, and the systems would be placed in March. Superintendent Kevin Hendrick said funding would come from capital funds and would be covered by grants.
Fallon Silcox
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