Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the School Security topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Perris board directs purchase of weapons-detection system, adds five campus supervisors
Summary
After extended debate about costs, operational impacts and community acceptance, the board authorized purchase of a portable weapons-detection system and approved five additional eight-hour campus supervisors to staff daily screening and deployment.
The Perris Union High School District board voted June 17 to purchase a portable weapons-detection system and add staff to operate the equipment across sites.
John Hannon presented the proposed Open Gate/CHS portable detection system, saying the district's recommended deployment of 23 systems to cover campus entrances would cost about $638,000 for equipment and that "the first year cost would be $1.138 million for the equipment and the staffing." Hannon told trustees the system works for daily entry control and can be used at large events; he recommended adding five full-time, eight-hour campus supervisors (one or two at the largest sites) and some clerical reassignments to operate and monitor the systems.
Trustees and staff debated implementation details, pilot options, community reaction and budget sources. Several trustees and staff favored hiring the additional campus supervisors first and staging equipment purchases, while others argued for buying portable systems since they can be used for graduations and large events. District staff reported $500,000 had been set aside in the proposed 2026–27 budget and that one-time funds could purchase equipment while general-fund dollars would be required for ongoing staffing costs.
Following extended discussion and questions about incident data, union negotiations and pilot sites, a motion to purchase the presented weapons-detection system and implement Hannon's staffing recommendation passed (four in favor, one opposed). The board directed staff to proceed with procurement and to negotiate operational details, including bargaining-unit discussions about work assignments.
Why it matters: The board's decision is a material shift in daily campus operations and recurring personnel costs. Staff emphasized the purchase is intended to be proactive—"better to have a fire extinguisher and not need it than need it and not have it"—and that communications and onboarding would be required to reduce initial congestion and confusion.
Next steps: District staff will finalize vendor procurement, open required labor negotiations about duties and schedules, and return with implementation details and budget adjustments as needed.
