District pilots weapons-detection screening at William Penn; officials call exercise operationally successful
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Summary
The Colonial School District reported a pilot weapons-detection screening at William Penn High School using donated equipment; staff said the exercise worked operationally though it slowed building entry and may be expanded selectively after notice to families.
A district safety official reported at the Feb. 10 board meeting that the Colonial School District ran a pilot weapons-detection screening at William Penn High School using equipment donated by local partners.
The official said students entering through exterior doors were re-directed into the main lobby and processed through the detection system; operations staff described the exercise as successful from an operational standpoint but noted entry lines were slower and the cold weather made the process more challenging. “The line was a little bit slower getting into the building, and it was a cold day,” the official said, and added that, operationally, the team viewed the pilot as a success.
The district said families were notified before the exercise and that similar screenings could be used at other schools on a random or rotating basis as part of the district’s quarterly safety-and-security follow-ups; no policy or permanent schedule was adopted at the meeting.
Board materials noted the weapons-detection item came from a safety summit in 2024 and that the district will continue quarterly updates on safety and security.