The future use of metal detectors in Ohio County Schools will be determined by the results registered at Wheeling Park High School during the remainder of the Spring semester.
Superintendent Dr. Kim Miller explained recently on River Talk 100.1 FM that the two metal detectors ordered in December likely will be deployed at the end of this week or at the beginning of next week. Miller said her future recommendations to the five members of the Ohio County Board of Education would be based on the finding at the high school.
“Of course, we hope what we see is that we don’t need anymore metal detectors in Ohio County Schools,” the superintendent said. “But you really just never know and that’s why I feel the use of the metal detectors will tell us what will be best for the future in Ohio County Schools.
“We’re also in an era of knowledge,” Miller explained. “So, we know more about our kids and the access they have to whatever information they seek. That’s a great thing as far as education is concerned, but not so much when it comes to some of the activities they choose to get involved with these days, but that access to information allows us to do better. So, we’re in the position to be able to purchase the metal detectors and that’s why it’s the next step we feel we have to take to keep people safe.”
Miller said she’s talked with a number of students, educators, and staff members from throughout the school district and that’s why she feels most understand why the metal detectors have been purchased.
“I believe the kids respect that we want to keep them safe, and I think they will appreciate the metal detectors the same way they’ve come to appreciate the new cell phone policy because they’ve learned that it’s been great not to have their phones while they’re supposed to be learning in the classroom,” Miller said. “Most of our students now appreciate that decision.
“I believe some things are more accessible to our students these days and that means they’re able to have access to weapons and to vaping, and to other things, too,” Miller explained. “They have access to things very easily so, we need to do our best to make sure we keep those things out of our schools.”
But not anything that can be considered a weapon like a firearm or a large blade?
“We have located pocket knives, and we know we have kids vaping so when we found those, we do our best to provide the counseling they need to understand how bad it is for their health,” Miller said. “A lot of young people are getting addicted to vaping and we see that as a problem for their health now and in the future.
“I believe that’s something we need to work on as a community, so we’re doing what we can to teach them about those risks,” she explained. “In this information era, it’s important that we, as educators, never turn our heads away from their decision making and what risks that come with some of those decisions. We try to make education the focus as often as possible, so addressing other issues with the purchase of these metal detectors helps us avoid some of those other issues.”
When and Where?
The discussion about metal detectors was not instigated because any dangerous items have been discovered by personnel at Wheeling Park High School.
Instead, Karin Butyn – the director of public relations and marketing for OCS – explained the purchase of the metal detectors was proactive in nature.
The units approved and were purchased for $48,438 in early December from Lauttamus Communications.
“I believe we are ahead of the curve with the purchase of these metal detectors, and that’s because Dr. Miller and Nicole Shepherd do a phenomenal job on the Safety Committee to really be on top of the research so they can determine what they believe we need in Ohio County Schools,” she said. “We’re being responsible, I believe, and we’re making sure this program works the way we need it to work.
“Once we see the results of the usage of these two units, I am sure the conversation will continue and decisions will be made,” she said. “But this is for everyone’s safety in the long term.”
But where will the students, teachers, staff, and members of the public see the metal detectors in the future?
“The detectors weigh only 15 pounds so we can use them very easily at different location if we feel the need to do that because you can put them in the back seat of your car,” Miller said. “I know that Mr. (Rick) Jones is organizing some professional development for our staff members so they can be trained on the system and how best to use them in our schools.
“If we feel we need more of these units, we’ll look into that possibility,” she said. “We’re always looking for more grants and ways to use the money that is designated for safety measures, but that’s something we would only move forward on if we feel there is a need once we utilized the units we have now.”
