Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Ohio County BOE reviews mobile metal detectors and county weather stations for student safety
Summary
Board discussed trial use of mobile metal detectors at Wheeling Park and plans to install real‑time weather stations at school rooftops to improve emergency notifications; staff estimated a unit cost around $4,500 plus service fees.
Board member Mr. Jones briefed the Ohio County Board of Education on trial use of mobile metal detectors and a proposed purchase of mobile units for schools at the Nov. 25 meeting.
Jones said the detectors "were great" during the trial at Park and that principals "utilize them on a daily basis." He recommended purchasing one or two mobile walkers for the high school so units can be moved countywide as needed; board members asked about sensitivity settings, staffing to operate the equipment, and how devices could interact with student Chromebooks.
Jones also described a planned partnership with a weather‑service provider to install weather stations on school roofs that would provide real‑time notifications (for lightning and other hazards) via app and widgets. He estimated the station hardware at about $4,500 with an annual service fee and said the county planned multiple installations to give broad coverage and improved cancel/delay decision support.
Board members asked whether the district currently pays for weather services; Jones said the district had used a vendor in prior years but canceled it after inaccurate notices. Members discussed starting with a single purchase and using purchase orders to proceed; one member asked to see exact pricing before authorizing a purchase order.
The meeting record shows follow‑up steps: Jones said he would meet with the procurement/contact person after Thanksgiving and anticipated issuing a purchase order. No formal purchase motion or vote was recorded at the meeting.
