COLUMBIA, S.C. — On Tuesday evening, the Richland Two School Safety Committee heard a presentation of a plan for metal detectors throughout all of the high schools in the district.
The committee has been working since February to put together a finalized idea for security upgrades.
The plan is to have mobile metal detectors in each high school all day, every day, and pop-ups for middle schools.
The district says they researched other safety measures like clear backpacks but decided that metal detectors were the best course of action.
"We are going to do the best we can with what we have and using technology a lot of the time can supplement us so we'll be able to accomplish the goal which is to improve the level of safety in the district," said Emergency Services Director, Marq Claxton.
Teachers will not be asked to step in to fulfill these metal detector checks either. Some district staff that does not teach will be asked to step in to help, but otherwise, the district will hire outside security staff to help with these checks every day.
This all will come at about a $3 million cost to the district.
"We're going to do what is necessary," said board member and committee chair, Angela Nash. "When the need becomes 'hey we have to do that'... we're looking at places where we can do that."
The committee is hoping to implement the metal detectors in the upcoming school year and will prepare students through videos and digital instruction.
Executive Director of Learning Support, Dr. Shirley Vickery, to talk more about how students will also have to mentally prepare for the additional security measure.
"It is a change, it is a shift from how we typically think of school. Most of us typically think of school as we come and go safely and we don't have to go through a metal detector, so this will be anxiety-producing for some students," Dr. Vickery explained.
The district says they are still planning to host a town hall about the metal detectors for parents to come and ask questions but does not have a date yet.
The Richland Two School Board will meet again on Tuesday, May 9, to see a first reading of the new safety measures plan.