Orlando, Florida Local News
Volusia school board leaders pass random search policy
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The Volusia County School Board passed a controversial item Tuesday night that will allow random searches with a metal detector for those entering the school or school events. Only one board member voted against the item Tuesday, saying her concern was not necessarily with the metal detectors, but with the language. Part of the updated policy passed Tuesday reads, “All individuals entering or present on Volusia County School sites or events are on notice that randomized screenings may be conducted without cause by the site administrator utilizing minimally intrusive electronic devices.” The discussion in Tuesday’s meeting was brief, with one board member saying the items on the agenda had been workshopped “over and over.” Discussion of the policy was tabled earlier this year.One parent WESH spoke with said her main concern was with the wording of the item, saying “random” screenings can be conducted without cause. “I don’t like the idea of hardening the schools but I understand the concern behind it,” Jenifer Kelly said. “There is a real concern there. If we are going to proceed with metal detectors in schools I would like to see it as everybody walk through. The random, the unconstitutional piece is removed,” But in the meeting where the policy discussion was tabled earlier this year, the district’s chief legal officer said it is legal. And the board chair expressed concerns with the number of weapons entering Volusia Schools. “We have issues with weapons coming on campus,” Jamie Haynes, the board chair, said. “And when you talk about numbers – those are the numbers of the ones that we’ve found.” While the updated policy didn’t appear to have an updated effective date, the first day of school is Aug. 12.
The Volusia County School Board passed a controversial item Tuesday night that will allow random searches with a metal detector for those entering the school or school events.
Only one board member voted against the item Tuesday, saying her concern was not necessarily with the metal detectors, but with the language.
Part of the updated policy passed Tuesday reads, “All individuals entering or present on Volusia County School sites or events are on notice that randomized screenings may be conducted without cause by the site administrator utilizing minimally intrusive electronic devices.”
The discussion in Tuesday’s meeting was brief, with one board member saying the items on the agenda had been workshopped “over and over.” Discussion of the policy was tabled earlier this year.
One parent WESH spoke with said her main concern was with the wording of the item, saying “random” screenings can be conducted without cause.
“I don’t like the idea of hardening the schools but I understand the concern behind it,” Jenifer Kelly said. “There is a real concern there. If we are going to proceed with metal detectors in schools I would like to see it as everybody walk through. The random, the unconstitutional piece is removed,”
But in the meeting where the policy discussion was tabled earlier this year, the district’s chief legal officer said it is legal. And the board chair expressed concerns with the number of weapons entering Volusia Schools.
“We have issues with weapons coming on campus,” Jamie Haynes, the board chair, said.
“And when you talk about numbers – those are the numbers of the ones that we’ve found.”
While the updated policy didn’t appear to have an updated effective date, the first day of school is Aug. 12.
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