Several parents and community members told the Flagler County School Board on Sept. 23 they want more visible and systematic weapons detection after speakers described a student on campus with a weapon earlier this school year.

Why it matters: Community speakers linked the concern to national school shootings and argued proactive detection and clear procedures could prevent tragedies. Board members acknowledged the concerns and scheduled a closed session to review safety measures with the sheriff’s office.

At public comment, Catherine Cheek said, “What happened on Thursday, September 4 cannot happen again,” and cited the sheriff’s department report that a student carried a weapon through campus during that day. Cheek asked the district to install “advanced weapons detection upon the entry of our school campuses.”

Hilda Smith, a parent and longtime volunteer, spoke about the emotional toll on families and said that while detectors are not “a fix all,” they are “a start” that the community should pursue. Smith urged the board to accept the difficulty and cost of improved detection as necessary to keep children safe.

Board and superintendent response: LaShaka Moore, superintendent, told the public the board takes safety seriously and announced the board will hold a closed session with the sheriff’s office on Sept. 30 to discuss safety recommendations. Moore said the district will consider sheriff’s recommendations and that the closed session is intended for collaborative review of security steps.

Board member remarks emphasized reporting and civic engagement. A board member noted the need to define what “0 tolerance” means in practice and encouraged community members to report threats so the district can investigate. Some board members thanked the sheriff’s office for responding to recent threats and praised the district’s follow‑up with emotional and mental‑health check‑ins after school security incidents.

Actions and next steps: The board scheduled a closed session with the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office on Sept. 30 focused solely on safety. No public vote to install metal detectors or to allocate funds occurred at the Sept. 23 meeting; several speakers asked the board to investigate feasibility and costs. Board member Janie Reddy requested a feasibility study and timeline for weapons detection and other safety measures; staff were asked to return with options.

Clarifying details: Speakers referenced an earlier out‑of‑district case (Winder, Georgia) and local incidents from Sept. 4; those references were presented by public commenters as reasons for urgent action. Moore and board members repeatedly noted that the district has mental‑health teams and urged community members to report threats through the proper channels so they can be investigated.

Ending note: The board set a closed session with law enforcement to review safety recommendations and asked staff to prepare feasibility materials. Community members who want immediate action were encouraged to file reports with school leadership or law enforcement.