The Barrow County School System will install weapons detection systems at all its high schools as early as next week. The school board voted Thursday to authorize the immediate purchase of the OpenGate Weapons Detection System for the county’s three high schools, up to $700,000.
“Our priority is to protect the wellbeing and safety of our students,” said Lisa Maloof, Board of Education Chair. “We know there is more work to do, and we’re committed to continuing the conversation with our community and safety experts to make our schools safe spaces where learning can thrive.”
Barrow County School Superintendent Dr. Dallas LeDuff said, “We have carefully and thoughtfully evaluated different measures to enhance safety and security in our schools, and we are grateful for the Board’s support in the immediate purchase of weapons detection systems in our high schools. Safety requires multiple layers of protection, and these enhancements will help make our schools more secure.”
LeDuff said administrators would discuss ways to reduce the number of bags brought onto school campuses with staff.
“We know there are bags that kids need to carry, and they have lots of things related to their school activities that they need to carry, but we just want to make you aware that we will be having conversations about what is specifically needed and what might not be needed as we move forward,” he said.
The ‘next step’
Dr. LeDuff called the detection system “the next step” to enhancing school safety in the wake of September’s Apalachee High School shooting that left four people dead and wounded nine others. He said more measures will follow as the school system continues to engage experts and talk with community members about additional safety enhancements.
The called meeting on Jan. 9 came a day after police arrested a student for bringing a gun to the Apalachee campus in Winder. Maloof addressed the timing in comments to parents and the media.
“This was planned for in a few weeks as we had talked and presented our schedule of bringing this to you months ago. But in light of the recent events, we have moved this meeting to tonight,” she explained.
The alleged Appalachee High shooter, 14-year-old Colt Gray, was a student at the school. He and his father now both face criminal charges in connection to the murders of math teachers Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, as well as students Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14.
GPB News reporter Chase McGee contributed to this report
