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Albany schools move to pilot new security screening at high school after parent outreach
Summary
Superintendent Hockrider told the board the district plans a December pilot of new security screening technology at Albany High School after three parent engagement sessions; staff said training and calibration will take about five days and that images won’t be retained, while board members pressed for details on throughput, daytime visitor screening, and false-positive handling.
Superintendent Hockrider told the Albany City School District Board that the district plans to pilot a package of security-screening technology at Albany High School in December after meeting parents and demonstrating the equipment.
Hockrider said the district held two in-person and one virtual meeting for families, about 20 parents attended across the sessions, and vendor representatives demonstrated the devices. "So, we are looking for rollout in December," Hockrider said, describing a phased implementation that will include hands-on calibration and ‘‘very vigorous’’ staff training of about five days.
The superintendent and staff emphasized two operational goals: speed and privacy. Hockrider said the technology aims to make morning entry more efficient, reduce bag searches that slow entry, and allow the district to redeploy security staff. He added the district will not retain images taken during screening and that staff training will focus on appropriate, nonembarrassing responses when a screening flags an individual.
Board members pressed for specifics. Member Granger asked that screening be placed for adult visitors during the school day to close an identified gap; she said daytime visitor screening currently does not occur and called it ‘‘definitely a gap.’’ Board members also asked whether recommended arrival windows — up to 30 minutes early — are reasonable if screening proves slower than expected; Hockrider said staff would evaluate throughput, leverage multiple entrances, and consult technology vendors.
Member Wolfgang asked whether staff would be trained to avoid overreaction to false positives; Hockrider said the district will build on prior trainings (including lessons from prior Raptor implementation) and provide de-escalation and sensitivity instruction to security personnel.
The superintendent framed the upgrade as one piece of broader improvements: he cited rising attendance and lower chronic absenteeism at Albany High School, and said graduation rates are on track to be the highest in more than a decade when state data can be published.
Next steps include final equipment testing during the holiday break and continued reporting back to the board and student body as the pilot progresses.
