Vero Beach High School begins checking students with metal detectors on Friday
IINDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Vero Beach High School students heading to class Friday morning were first screened by metal detectors, a first for the school district.
Implementation of metal detectors for students came just four days after a Vero Beach High student was arrested after a gun was found in his backpack on campus.
"Student safety is one of our top priorities," said Deputy Superintendent Scott Bass. "We thought it was necessary to act as quickly as we could."
Student entrances to the school were blocked on Friday except for the three access points equipped with the metal detectors — one each at the bus gate, student parking lot and parent parking lot. The bus gate and student parking lot each had more than 1,000 students pass through close to 7 a.m., with only a few getting to class late after the 7:05 a.m. bell, Bass said.
Student found with gun at Vero Beach High School arrested Monday
The metal detectors were purchased at the beginning of the school year, after Sheriff Eric Flowers noticed a lengthy process in security bag checks before a high school football game. The Sheriff's Office and school district split the $60,000 cost of three portable metal detectors to speed up checks at sporting events and school dances, Flowers said.
Earlier in the week, after the student's gun was discovered, Superintendent David Moore talked with Flowers about using the detectors to check students as they arrived on campus, Flowers said.
By midafternoon Tuesday, a plan was in place for the metal detectors, Bass said. Students and parents were notified by Thursday, alerting them with instructions on how to get through the detectors, he said.
No contraband was found Friday, according to Flowers.
The metal detectors, similar to those used at theme parks and large events, are able to detect large masses of metal, such as a handgun or an ammunition magazine, so emptying pockets and removing belts or shoes is unnecessary, Flowers said. Students walk through two 6-foot-high poles as they enter the school, he said.
Laptops and three-ring binders, for example, have to be taken out of backpacks for students to pass because the detectors will pick up on these items, Bass said.
Metal detectors will become part of the norm in the district's schools, Bass said. Additional detectors are on the way for Sebastian River High and other schools, he said.
"It's the necessary steps we needed to take to keep kids safe," Bass said.
The latest incident was concerning, Bass said. Previously, all other weapons that were seized from a student were found because of a tip, sometimes before the student arrived on campus, he said. Monday's incident was the first time a weapon was found while administrators were searching for something else. In Monday's case, administrators were looking for vaping materials, he said.
"We needed to act now," Bass said.
The district's current metal detectors may not be limited to Vero Beach High, Flowers said. The equipment is portable and can be set up and dismantled within 15 minutes, Flowers said. Next week, district officials could move the detectors to Sebastian River High or any of the other schools, the sheriff said.
Students are being put on notice that if they bring a gun to school, it will be found, Flowers said.
Colleen Wixon is the education reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers. Contact her at Colleen.Wixon@TCPalm.com.
This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Indian River County schools put in metal detectors at Vero Beach High School
