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Prince George schools to start object‑detector screening at secondary schools; board discusses accommodations and operations
Summary
District staff said CHEA Open‑gate object detectors are in place at entry points for the district’s three secondary schools starting next week; the board discussed logistics, accommodations for students with IEPs/504s, staffing and a short grace period to avoid penalizing students for tardiness during the rollout.
Prince George County School Board members heard an operational update Aug. 11 on the district’s implementation of object detectors at its three secondary campuses.
Mr. Barnes said the district has installed Open-gate object detectors at three points of entry at the high school, three at Clements Junior High and five at Moore Middle School to cover multiple bus-ramp entryways. The high school will add awnings and relocate one security vestibule to streamline student entry. The district has purchased awnings (quoted dimensions discussed) and has used FY24 rollover funds for parts of the work; it also applied for state security grant funds for longer-term equipment.
Board members asked operational questions about before-school tutoring and whether students with IEPs or mobility devices would be accommodated. Mr. Barnes and other administrators said teachers who previously provided before‑school tutoring may not be available to do so during the initial rollout, but after-school and Saturday remediation will continue. For students who cannot be scanned (for example, those with metal wheelchairs) staff said school officials will use hand‑held wands and make case-by-case accommodations; administrators also stated that students will not be marked tardy during the first weeks of implementation.
The district will use teams of staff at entry points to direct students through detector flow and to remind them of expectations (e.g., prepare Chromebooks and binders). School officials said settings are initially configured so students need not remove phones from pockets; settings can be tightened later if needed.
No change to policy was made at the meeting; board members asked staff to ensure communications to families clarify accommodations and tardiness expectations during the first weeks of school.
