Kenosha board approves moving ahead with secure‑entrance project; staggered rollout planned

The Kenosha Unified School District board voted March 24 to accept administration's recommendation to proceed with design and scheduling for secure‑entrance upgrades at seven schools, clearing the way for contractors to be placed on the summer work schedule. Funding options for the reported $7.5 million project will be presented to the board at its April meeting.

Superintendent Dr. Weiss told the board the district had purchased walk‑through metal detectors and handheld wands and has met with vendor implementation specialists to plan each site's location and traffic flow. "The schedule for the implementation is Wednesday, April 15 to go live at Bradford, Wednesday, April 22 to go live at Indian Trail, Thursday, April 23, live at Lakeview, Wednesday, April 29, to go live at Tremper, and Thursday, April 30, to go live at Harborside and Reuther," he said.

Administration said the rollout will be staggered to allow on‑site vendor training and to minimize disruption to the start of the school day; leaders warned of longer entry times initially and said they will run an information campaign for students and families. Board members asked for clarity on which schools were included in the plan, whether shorter kiosk options could achieve similar outcomes, and how screening would affect recess or outdoor time for younger students.

A motion to accept administration's recommendation (to approve the revised project scope and authorize proceeding with design and scheduling) was made and seconded; the motion passed by voice vote with the chair voting aye. Administration will return to the board in April with funding options and a formal funding vote.

The board's action authorizes design and scheduling only; no loan or funding was taken at this meeting. The board noted the recommendation came with an endorsement from the district safety committee and that final funding and contracting will follow required approvals.