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Winchester plans weapons detectors at elementary schools; staff say tech worked at high school and middle campuses
Summary
District staff proposed phase three of a weapons detector rollout to place dual detectors at elementary entrances in August; presenters said Cheyenne detectors were reliable in prior implementations but required process adjustments because Chromebooks and some items set off sensors.
Winchester Public Schools staff told trustees on June 23 they plan to expand weapons detectors to all elementary school buildings in late August as part of a phased safety rollout that already installed detectors at John Hanley High School and at the Daniel Morgan campus.
Presenting the plan, staff member Jen Buckley said the division used Cheyenne weapons detectors at the high school in August 2024 and at the Daniel Morgan campuses in January 2025 and believes the technology can be implemented in elementary schools within one year. "We have had zero issues with them in terms of technology," Buckley said, but she noted the detectors weigh about 24 pounds and that Chromebooks and some common items (three-ring binders, large water bottles) trigger alarms. To address that, schools developed entry routines and staff-assisted screening; she said the biggest operational challenge was handing Chromebooks to staff while students pass through detectors but that routines quickly reduced delays.
Under the plan described to the board, elementary campuses would have two detectors at dual entry points (buses and car pool) and staff would move detectors to front offices after morning entry to screen visitors during the day. Buckley said most elementary sites have fewer students carrying devices home than the high school, which should reduce sensor triggers during morning entry.
Board members expressed concern and support. One trustee said it is "scary" to see detectors in elementary schools but argued the board's duty is to protect children when funding is available. Another trustee described a neighborhood incident involving a young child and a weapon as context for supporting additional precautions.
No formal board vote on the elementary rollout was recorded on June 23; Buckley said funding was available and asked for the board's support for full implementation in August. Staff said they will continue communications with families about items that trigger detectors and coordinate with transportation to avoid morning delays.
The record of the meeting is limited to the presentation and board discussion; specific vendor contracts, installation schedules and per-campus staffing plans were not presented in detail during the June 23 public meeting.
