After gun found, Akron schools to seek fixed metal detectors, other security upgrades
The Akron Public Schools Board of Education will be asked to consider a proposal to purchase fixed metal detectors for middle and high school buildings next week.
Mark Williamson, spokesperson for the district, said the administration is putting together a proposal this week and plans to present it to the school board Monday.
"We're working on it as we speak," he said Tuesday. "We don't have a dollar amount on it ... you can say several million dollars."
The Akron Educators Association has sharply criticized Superintendent Christine Fowler Mack for what teachers say is an atmosphere of "fear, chaos and mismanagement" in school buildings after several recent incidents, including two stabbings, fights and a seventh grade student found Monday with a loaded handgun on school property.
More:'48 hours of chaos': Akron teachers union criticizes superintendent over school safety
Fowler Mack, in response to the incidents, announced the district will expand the use of metal detectors from a "random" to "routine" basis.
Williamson said the goal is to screen all students and visitors on a daily basis, hence the request for fixed detectors to be installed at school entrances. He acknowledged the plan requires school board approval, millions of dollars in spending, and months before the detectors are all in place, the staff is trained and protocols are established for their use.
In a statement from the school board, President N.J. Akbar said the board realizes "there is more we must and can all do together" and welcomed suggestions on solutions.
"The board shares the concerns of our community regarding recent incidents and are committed to incorporating an open and transparent process of identifying institutional and community-based solutions. A multi-pronged approach is necessary to realize more immediate and long term solutions and positive outcomes," the statement said.
APS adds 2 police officers
Williamson said that the district took its first step in bolstering its 63-member security staff last fall, when it added staff to its security force. This week, it added two police officers to the 13 school resource officers already employed by the district.
The next step is to review and tighten security around all school entrances, he said.
"Some of our schools have 30 doors," he said. "We are upgrading the security on as many of the doors as we can. We're going to upgrade the security systems on all the doors, not just the main entrance. These new school buildings have a lot of entrances and exits and they all need to be secured with the latest technology systems that are available.
"The front doors, the entrances what we want, and what we're trying to get done, is metal detectors that would be fixed."
More:APS to expand use of metal detectors after Litchfield CLC student found with loaded gun
Williamson said one issue with fixed detectors would be the length of time it would take to do morning screenings.
"This will represent significant delays in getting kids into school, because this will take so long. We can't have our kids missing an hour of school every day just to get in school," he said.
Each middle and high school now has one portable metal detector unit. Middle schools have three handheld metal-detecting wands, while high schools have five.
Students are checked at random times — not always at the beginning of the school day.
Williamson said the district is working out how to start shifting from random use of the portable detectors and wands to daily use, pending the installation of fixed detectors at entrances.
Eric Marotta can be reached at emarotta@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter @MarottaEric.
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Superintendent seeks fixed metal detectors for Akron schools
