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Board approves purchase of walk‑through metal detectors for Muhlenberg County middle and high schools
Summary
Following a demo and discussion of logistics and sensitivity, the board approved buying five portable metal detectors for entrance screening at the middle and high schools; staff will determine placement and staff duties for alarm follow‑up.
The Muhlenberg County School District board voted to buy portable walk‑through metal detectors for Muhlenberg County Middle School and Muhlenberg County High School after staff presented a demo and recommended devices that can be set for higher sensitivity and moved between entrances.
Administrators told the board the quoted package covered two units at the middle school and two at the high school but the board approved five units to ensure coverage at primary entrances. Staff said the detectors are portable, can be deployed at main entry points and used for random searches, and that sensitivity settings can be adjusted (officials noted the devices are most reliable for detecting rifles and other large weapons at higher sensitivity settings). The board discussed staffing and procedures for follow‑up when a detector alarms; staff said an on‑site staff member would investigate and that alarmed checks could constitute probable cause for further action.
Board members referenced other districts’ experience (Marshall County) and weighed the tradeoffs of screening logistics against staffing needs. A board member moved to approve the purchase and to increase the order to five units; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.
The vote authorizes staff to complete acquisition and to work out placement and implementation details; the transcript did not record a final per‑unit price or manufacturer beyond the demo notes.
