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Board backs plan to use $250,000 grant for weapons-detection machines at high school; student raises logistical concerns
Summary
The district announced a $250,000 grant intended to fund weapons-detection equipment and bag scanners at high-school entrances; the superintendent said equipment costs will consume the grant and staffing will require additional funds. Student board member Evan Wagner Flynn and others asked how entry delays, queuing in cold weather, and locker logistics will be managed.
The Jamesville-DeWitt Board announced it had been awarded a $250,000 grant earmarked to support safety and security upgrades, and the superintendent said the district plans to prioritize weapons-detection systems and bag scanners at two high-school entry points using that funding.
"The price of the machinery and the systems will be the full 250,000," the superintendent said, adding that the grant likely leaves only about $1,200 in residual funds and that staffing costs to operate and supervise the machines will require separate funding or grants.
Student board member Evan Wagner Flynn raised operational concerns about throughput and weather exposure: "If it takes 10 minutes to get into school when previously it took 30 seconds, then... you're going to have kids... getting being late to class," he said, and cautioned the board about students waiting outdoors in subfreezing conditions.
The superintendent said the district had visited other schools that operate similar systems (including Greece Central and Baldwinsville) and that initial processing can be slow but typically improves with practice. The superintendent also invited the student member to participate in planning and mitigation studies and said the district will study queuing, locker placement, and other logistics before full implementation.
Board members discussed whether a districtwide radio system should be pursued through additional grants and confirmed that exterior cameras are monitored during business hours and accessible off-hours as needed. The board did not record a formal vote to obligate further operating funds; members indicated they would seek additional grant support and plan further study before operational changes take effect.
