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Upper Darby officials report smooth rollout of weapons detection systems at middle and high schools
Summary
District leaders and a student representative reported positive early results from Evolve weapon-detection systems installed at Upper Darby High School and both middle schools, with administrators citing faster entry lines, low false alarms and a communication plan for families ahead of next year.
Upper Darby School District officials and a student board representative said the district’s weapon-detection systems, installed during the 2024–25 school year at the high school and both middle schools, have operated smoothly and produced usable data for planning ahead of fall.
District administrators described the systems’ rollouts and usage at an Education and People Services committee meeting May 27 and in remarks during the board’s regular meeting. The update included implementation data, a family communication plan and a reminder video designed to prepare students and families for 2025–26 operations.
Superintendent Daniel McGarry and Anthony Vaughn, the district’s director of public safety, briefed trustees on the systems’ deployment. Vaughn provided a “brief summary and update on the successful implementation of the weapons detection systems,” according to the committee summary presented by board member Damian Warshavige. The systems were installed during the 2024–25 school year at the high school and both middle schools, and administrators told the committee they had collected usage data following implementation and prepared communications for families.
Student representative Tasneem Yasmin said the systems have not slowed morning entry at Beverly Hills and Drexel Hill middle schools. “Lines are quick with 3 entrances each and very, very rarely does the detection system go off,” Yasmin said. She added that the extra time created by not waiting in line “to greet the students and have a small talk feels so valuable and an attendant and positive consequence of the addition of these weapon detection systems.”
Committee materials and the board summary said administrators will continue to monitor system data and finalize communications to families before the 2025–26 school year. No changes to district policy or formal board action on the systems were recorded in the meeting minutes; the update was informational.
District leaders said the next steps include continuing to analyze post-implementation data and distributing reminders and preparation materials to students and families. The committee noted there were no public comments on the weapons-detection presentation during the May 27 meeting.
Board members and administrators said they will bring additional monitoring results or recommended policy changes to future committee meetings if needed.
