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After Saint Charles incident, superintendent seeks funding for gun‑detection software and rotating screening units
Summary
Superintendent Navarro described immediate measures to support Saint Charles High School and asked commissioners for funding to expand interior gun‑detection software, portable weapon‑detection units and K‑9/search support; safety director cautioned that some screening options are costly and not a single‑solution.
In a town hall on May 8, Charles County Public Schools leaders described steps they are taking after recent weapon‑related incidents and outlined funding requests and operational tradeoffs for expanded detection and prevention measures.
"There are several incidents with guns or lookalike guns within our premises," Superintendent Dr. Ryan Navarro told participants, citing recent events at Saint Charles High School and elsewhere. Navarro said the district will mobilize visible gun‑detection software inside Saint Charles within about two weeks and has asked the sheriff's office for additional patrol support and K‑9 assistance.
Jason Stoddard, the district's director of safety and security, urged a layered approach rather than single, visible solutions. Responding to questions about clear backpacks, Stoddard said the policy can be "more of an optical and a performative solution" and listed durability and health concerns as practical downsides.
Stoddard said the district has operated an AI‑driven "Gun Detect" system on exterior cameras since 2023. "It only sees visible firearms and firearm activity," he said, and the perimeter system has helped the district identify weapons during off‑hours. He added those cameras cannot detect concealed items or infer intent.
On entry screening, Stoddard described a range of portable technologies and costs. He estimated units at between $25,000 and $140,000 apiece and warned a high‑school deployment could require many stations and additional staff; he noted Maryland law limits who may operate screening equipment. Stoddard also cited research he said shows metal detectors do not necessarily increase school safety and can produce downstream effects like reduced information sharing and negative mental‑health implications.
Navarro said she will request county funding separate from the district's operating ask to pilot rotating, portable detection units that can be moved among buildings. She also asked commissioners for funds to expand interior gun‑detection software to other high schools and to support more searches and mental‑health and mentoring programs.
Board members, the superintendent and staff discussed complementary prevention measures: increasing extracurricular engagement, piloting explicit gun‑safety instruction in middle schools, expanding mentorship programs with community partners, and communicating with families about safe firearm storage. The district also plans follow‑up surveys and student engagement work to assess program impact.
What happens next: Navarro said she will submit specific funding requests to county commissioners, post materials and plans publicly, and work with law enforcement and community partners on implementation. No formal procurement or board vote was recorded at the town hall.
