William Floyd School District To Install Metal Detectors By Year's End

MASTIC BEACH, NY — William Floyd officials expect to install walk-through metal detectors by the end of the school year and order more security wands for increased screening inside schools, a district spokesman confirmed for Patch.

Officials' announcement Tuesday at a Board of Education meeting comes on the heels of a 14-year-old student being found with a loaded gun inside the high school while being interviewed about possibly vaping on Oct. 18, authorities said.

The student, who is not being identified due to his age, was charged with second-degree criminal possession of a weapon and criminal possession of a weapon on school grounds by 7th Squad detectives, police said.

Also, at the meeting, Suffolk police Homeland Security Section officials discussed how they prepare and train for active shooter situations.

"Right now we are doing our due diligence by reaching out, and having them bring products in and seeing what is the best fit," district spokesman James Montalto said.

The district has reached out to potential vendors, while its security staff will continue to screen people entering school buildings, a practice that has been in place for about a decade.

District officials are finding out how many school districts use walk-through metal detectors, according to Montalto. So far, they have learned that in addition to schools in New York City, and some upstate, Uniondale uses the machines, he said.

"We are reaching out in our due diligence to arrange if we can see them in action," he added.

The cost of installing the machines has not been determined, though officials plan to use reallocated funds from the budget, so it is not expected that there will be any extra cost to taxpayers, Montalto said.