Metal Detectors Start Thursday At All Woodbridge High Schools

WOODBRIDGE, NJ — The metal detectors that were installed at all three Woodbridge high schools after a teenage boy brought a loaded gun to school last month will be put into use Thursday.

This was announced by Woodbridge High School principal Scott Osborne in a letter to parents.

"On March 19, the superintendent of schools informed the high school communities that the district was ordering weapons-detection systems for deployment this year. I am pleased to share that the systems are ready for use and our high school will begin screening all students on Thursday, April 10," he wrote.

Only the three Woodbridge high schools — WHS, Colonia and JFK — have the metal detectors; the middle and elementary schools did not get them.

The high schools will open earlier, at 7:15 a.m. these next few weeks, and students are encouraged to get there earlier, as it will take much longer for all students and staff to go through the metal detectors. Also, students are now only allowed to bring clear, plastic water bottles into school. No metal containers, such as Stanley, will be allowed to pass through the detectors.

"All students will walk through a metal detector. If something is detected, the student will step to the side and a handheld metal detector will be used to screen the student," said Osborne. "If the handheld metal detector indicates that the student is in possession of a metal object, that student is subject to further search."

Students will also have to place all their bags and personal effects on a table to be searched by a security officer. Students and staff also have to show ID to then enter the building.

On March 18, a Tuesday, a 17-year-old boy brought a loaded gun into Woodbridge High School. The Woodbridge school district is still refusing to release further information about this, saying it remains under police investigation. But the teen who brought the loaded gun had sent threatening text messages to another teen boy the night prior. That teen reported the texts to Woodbridge High teachers first thing Tuesday morning.

Administrators and school security searched the student's items, and a loaded firearm was found in his possession. Woodbridge Police were called to the high school at 8:07 a.m. last Tuesday; seized the firearm and took the 17-year-old into custody. He was charged with acts of juvenile delinquency for offenses which if committed by an adult would constitute illegal weapons offenses, terroristic threats, possession of a firearm on school property and possession of a ghost gun.

Patch was first to report: Woodbridge Installs High School Metal Detectors After Teen Brought Loaded Gun To School (March 25)

New Details On Student Who Brought Loaded Gun To Woodbridge High School After Dispute (March 18)