WARSAW — On July 9, Indiana Governor Eric J. Holcomb announced the state of Indiana would provide one hand-held metal detector device for every 250 students in a school corporation at no cost to the districts. Through this state safety initiative, Warsaw Community Schools is preparing to implement these safety devices at all buildings within the district.

In view of the escalating school violence, the potential presence of weapons in our schools and the school corporation’s duty to maintain a safe learning environment, the Board of School Trustees has authorized the use of metal detectors to check a student or individual’s person or personal effects. Only school personnel who have been trained in the usage of metal detectors, law enforcement officers assigned to the school corporation, or school resource officers shall operate the metal detectors under the direction of the administration.

The detectors will be distributed one per every 250 students, making the devices available at every school within the district. With the introduction of new safety equipment also comes the introduction to updates in WCS policies to ensure best use. Searches will be carried out if there is due cause for suspicion and in randomized searches similar to WCS’s current drug testing policy. Searches will be carried out discretely and will be only be conducted by members of the same sex who have been trained to utilize the devices. These searches may include WCS staff, students and guests on school property.

Notice of the board policy and procedures on the use of metal detectors will be sent to parents and students and outlined in the WCS student handbook. The metal detector checks will be done only in accordance with the provisions of the board policy and procedures by school personnel or law enforcement officers under the supervision of the school administrator.

“We are grateful to the state of Indiana and Governor Holcomb for providing metal detectors to our local schools in order to promote safety and security,” noted WCS Superintendent Dr. David Hoffert. “WCS is currently working to update policies to best use these devices in circumstances of reasonable suspicion or at extra and co-curricular activities. These devices will provide added security measures to our trained personnel.”