Brentwood security chief seeks funding for Evolv screening, staffing and equipment upgrades
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Subscribe
Summary
Director of School Safety Byron McCray reviewed 2025–26 security initiatives — cameras, door monitoring, vape detectors, repeaters — and asked the board to fund additional overtime, convert part‑time guards to full time, replace vehicles ($150,000 request) and add contractual costs for a proposed Evolv weapons‑detection system.
Director of School Safety Byron McCray told the Brentwood Union Free School District Board of Education that the district has implemented multiple security upgrades and is seeking budget increases to maintain and expand those efforts.
McCray listed completed and in‑progress work completed this school year: part‑time security hires for elementary coverage, playground monitoring systems (under calibration), widespread camera upgrades and a mainframe upgrade, vape detectors for locker rooms, a fully installed door‑monitoring system (with door traps still in progress), and enhanced radio repeaters to maintain communications in the event of outages. He said the district replaced two older security vehicles and is seeking additional vehicle funding.
McCray highlighted community outreach and workforce development: the district’s Brentwood Boxing Club (assisted by teacher Kevin Ahern), a youth police academy in its fourth year, and an in‑district pipeline that led to one academy graduate being hired into school safety. He said the district hired 29 community members into school safety roles and offered CPR/AED classes to community members.
“...we hired 29 members of the community into our school safety department,” McCray said, summarizing both hires and training assistance.
McCray described a three‑day proof of concept for the Evolv weapons‑detection system, which he characterized as less invasive than the current solution and already deployed at other venues. He said each dual lane can process roughly 500 students in 15 minutes (he extrapolated the system could handle about 2,000 students) and that the system detects knives and firearms without requiring students to open bags; he noted it uses radio waves and artificial intelligence, not ionizing radiation. McCray said he has included the system in his budget request and warned contractual costs would be significant.
On specific budget asks McCray requested: additions to overtime funding to cover extracurricular events; converting part‑time elementary guards to full‑time positions to reduce repeated overtime; $150,000 to replace two older vehicles and purchase a golf cart for outdoor events; increased uniform and equipment budgets for additional staff; heightened contractual line items to cover Evolv and new camera/blind‑spot work; funds for CPI certification (training expires every two years); security equipment repair and travel for staff trainings.
Board members publicly thanked McCray for the work and the community engagement projects he described. The presentation closed with the board prompting additional workshop sessions as the district develops the proposed budget.
What’s next: McCray’s security requests will be considered during subsequent budget workshops and incorporated into the district’s proposed budget for board adoption prior to the May vote. The meeting adjourned after the presentations.