Liberty County board plans elementary weapons detectors and clear-book-bag rule, seeks clarity on officer pay and liability

The Liberty County School Board on Tuesday reviewed two safety measures intended to tighten security at elementary schools: a proposal to buy portable weapons-detection units and a new clear-book-bag requirement for elementary and pre-kindergarten students.

Arnold Jackson, who presented both items to the board, told members the district plans to place one portable detector at each elementary school and at the district's pre-K center and that the units are portable so they can be used for large events such as athletic contests and graduations. "The weapons detection system will detect knives, guns and other weapons," Jackson said, and staff described the devices as having an industry-low false-alarm rate and being in use at other Georgia districts.

Jackson presented a total project cost of $145,536 and said funding would come from an East Bluffs account previously identified in the district budget. He also presented a separate policy requiring clear backpacks for all elementary and pre-K students and said the district's communications team will provide a rollout and frequently asked questions for families; the requirement is expected to begin in August 2026 and staff said there is "no financial impact" for the policy itself while student-services staff will help families with hardship.

Board members asked several operational and legal questions before approving the items for a future formal vote. One board member said the clear-bag rule "should be in the code of conduct next year" rather than returned as a standalone approval item. Other trustees pressed staff for details about deployment logistics, the number of units per school and the vendor's evidence on false positives.

The weapons-detection discussion intersected with a broader conversation about school resource officers and temporary police support. Board members asked for clarity on how Hinesville Police Department officers who are currently staged as off-duty, paid support are being compensated and under what legal umbrella they serve in school buildings. Jackson said the officers are being paid through arrangements involving the sheriff's office or by invoices to the district under an MOU, and staff were directed to return with clearer documentation on payment flow, insurance and liability for events and normal operations.

Next steps: staff will provide the board with additional information about unit counts, precise funding lines, the procurement schedule and the legal/payment arrangements for off-duty officers; the board will take formal action on the procurement and the clear-backpack requirement at a future meeting.