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Barrow County community presses board on weapons-detection, clear-bag and pod security after September shooting
Summary
Residents, students and teachers told the Barrow County Board of Education that recently installed metal detectors and AI weapons-detection devices are not being used consistently and urged clear-bag rules, more resource officers and stronger access control for 'pod' classroom spaces.
Residents, students and staff pressed the Barrow County Board of Education on Feb. 4 to tighten school security after a September shooting and a separate January incident in which a weapon was found on a campus.
The session focused on how metal detectors and new AI weapons-detection units are being used in practice and whether additional steps — including a clear-bag policy, more school resource officers and tighter access control at “pod” classrooms — are needed to make students and staff feel safe.
Why it matters: speakers said the district’s purchased security devices matter only if they are implemented consistently. Many described daily scenes in which detectors sit unused at the side of a hallway, classroom doors remain propped open and students are admitted without passing through screening — conditions they say leave students vulnerable.
Dr. Bowen, speaking for support services, told the board the system approved Jan. 9 to buy metal detectors for middle and high schools is being rolled out in phases. “The middle schools will be receiving…
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