Schenectady High to Set Up Metal Detectors During Holiday Recess

December 10, 2024

Updated: December 10, 2024

SCHENECTADY - In ‍a proactive move to ‍enhance security, Schenectady ⁣High School is ⁣set to install metal detectors‍ and bag scanners⁢ during the upcoming holiday break. This follows the ‌school board’s approval of a bid to procure a state-of-the-art weapons detection and screening⁢ system from a‌ reputable Florida-based company.

The decision to purchase these advanced weapons detection systems was ‍made in September, in response to a series of violent incidents that occurred at the ‌high school earlier ⁢this fall. To ensure transparency and community⁢ involvement, the district organized a safety fair in October,⁣ where students and residents were given the opportunity‌ to witness ⁣hands-on demonstrations of various screening ⁣systems from a multitude of vendors.

After ⁤a‍ thorough bidding⁢ process that concluded on Nov. 13, and ⁣taking into account valuable community feedback, the district decided to acquire⁢ 15 RONIN Enterprise weapons detection systems ‌for city schools. These ⁣portable grey towers, standing ⁢at approximately four feet tall, bear a resemblance to the metal detectors commonly seen at‌ shopping malls and sports venues.

During its Dec. 4 meeting, the school board approved a $618,000 ⁣contract with MIS ⁤Security⁤ of Tallahassee, Florida. As part of this agreement, the district⁢ will rent 15 RONIN detectors and purchase five‍ bag scanners.

The contract was unanimously ⁤approved by the board, with Board of Education‌ President Bernice Rivera, Vice President Nohelani Etienne, ‍and board members ‍Cathy⁢ Lewis and Vivian Parson all expressing‍ their support for the agreement.

The system, which includes two lightweight pillars and a bag scanner akin to those used at airports, will initially be installed at the ‍high school ‌before being extended ⁣to the ⁢district’s ‌three ⁣middle schools.

Jeffrey Russo, District Director of Climate‌ and⁣ Safety, informed the board during ⁤last Wednesday’s meeting that ⁣the district received a dozen proposals for ⁢security systems. The decision to choose the RONIN detectors from MIS Security was made after the company showcased the⁢ technology at⁣ the district’s safety fair on Oct. 24 at the high ⁤school.

“The RONIN system was chosen because it was the most cost-efficient and ⁣best met our needs,” Russo ‍explained.

He further elaborated that the system⁣ is capable ⁤of detecting a ⁣wide range of ⁢items, from knives to vape pens, ⁤when students pass through the towers.

“The system is ⁣unobtrusive, eliminating the need for manual screening. The ‍machine will ⁣do all the work,” he ⁣added.

The⁢ detectors provide live video feed to⁢ computers operated by school security, with artificial⁢ intelligence being used to⁤ identify items carried by students ⁢who pass through the detectors.

According to the district’s plan, two or three sets of towers will be installed at each of ⁣the two‍ main high school entrances, ⁣with one bag scanner also placed at each entrance.

The portable security towers are battery-operated and can be deployed at district athletic events as needed.

The district has ⁣secured ⁢a $500,000 grant from the⁢ U.S. Department of Justice to obtain the‍ detection technology. The grant gives the district three years to implement the systems, with the district funding the remaining balance of the $618,000 contract.

“Part of that ‍grant was a matching piece, so that will be‌ the piece that⁣ we have to pay,” ⁣District Chief Financial Officer ⁤Terry Gillooley ‌said.

During ‌last week’s meeting, Rivera asked Russo if⁤ all students would⁣ need ‍to pass through the ‍scanners each morning. ⁣Russo replied‌ that students carrying bags that contained more than basic items like school books would run their bag through the‍ scanner,‍ while other students would walk ⁤through the towers.

“I⁣ envision⁢ three lanes, ⁣with only one ⁣lane having the scanner. This way, the majority of students can‌ walk through without any delay,” Russo said.

He noted that approximately 2,000 students combined pass through the two entrances on an average school day, and that the number of security towers could accommodate⁣ several thousand students each morning.

“Our goal is to avoid⁤ creating a‌ bottleneck,” Russo told the board.

Teachers ⁢and⁣ district⁢ staff will not be required to walk through the detectors at the inception ‍of the program, as they will be entering‍ the high school ⁤through ‌multiple entrances.

The grey metal detectors could be wrapped in‍ district logos, Russo noted.

The decision to implement⁤ this security measure was prompted by a series⁣ of violent incidents that‌ took ⁢place at the high⁤ school in September, including a pair of students⁣ being stabbed at the ‌school during an altercation on Sept. 17 and⁢ a series of⁣ fights in the school the ‌previous week.

Russo informed the school board that the district is⁤ forming an ⁤implementation committee for the weapons detections systems. The first‍ step will be to plan the rollout of the security system at the high⁣ school when winter‌ break begins on Dec. 23.