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Committee approves process to study metal detectors at high schools; community program leader offers grant expansion
Summary
The committee approved a motion to permit staff to develop and trial a metal‑detector program at Lynchburg high schools and heard from James Watkins, director of the Good Games program, who requested support to apply for an Operation Ceasefire grant to expand violence‑prevention programming alongside any security technology changes.
Lynchburg City Schools’ Finance & Facilities Committee on Tuesday authorized staff to proceed with planning and a trial implementation of metal detectors at the district’s two high schools, and the administration said it will present a full operational plan to the school board on Oct. 7.
District staff presented a phased approach that would be led by the coordinator of school safety and security, school resource officers, school security officers and high school principals. The administration said funding for an initial, phased implementation can come from leveraged contract savings and that the plan will include operational design, training and family/stakeholder engagement. The administration’s one‑page and slide materials set a target to begin a trial at a first high school in November 2025 if approved to move forward.
James Watkins (who said he is commonly known as Trey), director of the Good Games program at E.C. Glass, addressed the committee and supported a dual approach: use metal detection as a deterrent and pilot while also expanding community‑based prevention work. Watkins said his program has been funded through an Operation Ceasefire grant and that an additional Operation Ceasefire grant opportunity closes Oct. 10; he asked Lynchburg City Schools to be the fiscal applicant so his program could scale to Heritage High School and add parent engagement work.
Nick Caputo, coordinator of school safety and security, described the district’s current layered security model and said existing weapon detection capabilities are limited (hand‑held wands currently in limited use). He said any metal‑detector rollout must be part of a “multi‑tiered layered security system,” require a building‑specific assessment of choke points and staffing plans, and include training for staff who will operate the equipment and respond to detections.
Committee members raised operational questions — how to route bus riders, student drivers and parent drop‑off points through detection points; how to secure alternate access points that will not have detectors; how detectors would be staffed; and sustainability of grant‑funded programs. District staff and Mr. Caputo said those operational questions will be part of the detailed plan to come to the board and to the committee.
A motion to give staff permission to proceed with planning and to start the process was made, seconded and approved by voice vote. After the vote, board members requested follow‑up meetings and additional detail on grant stipulations and sustainability for any program expansions offered by community partners.
