Seaford schools set weapon-detection requirement, fees and training for some facility rentals

Seaford School District staff described proposed changes to facility-use regulations that would require the use of a weapon-detection system for some rentals, add operator fees and a minimum charge, and expand training for partner organizations.

Staff said the regulation change reflects a decision to require weapon-detection screening at the middle school site for external users and to include web/weapon-detection as a line item in the facilities regulations. “You have to have 2 weeks for web detection system. They get $20 an hour and there's a 3 hour minimum for them,” a staff member said, describing the operator fee and minimum-charge policy.

Presenters explained that the district can lock off the middle school from the rest of the building — a control not always available at the high school — and that locking the space reduces risks when outside groups use the building. Staff said they had met with long-time partners who use district facilities; most understood the new requirements but some organizations, including one that budgets annually (identified in the transcript as Forest Rack), will need time to adapt their budgets across fiscal years.

District staff described a training program for facility partners; the transcript notes about 30 people would be trained to operate or oversee the detection process. Staff said the changes will help close security gaps identified in prior screenings and that the plan will roll out in phases with some events requiring extra lead time for the district and external partners. No formal board vote on the facility-use regulation changes was recorded at the meeting.