Weapon Detectors Coming To Some Fairfax County Schools As Pilot Program

FAIRFAX COUNTY, VA — High schools and secondary schools in Fairfax County will be part of a test on screening for weapons.

Fairfax County Public Schools announced that a weapon detection pilot program will launch on Monday, April 21. During the pilot program, the school system will set up 15 Open Gate weapon detection devices at randomly-selected high schools or secondary schools. At least one school per week will be selected to have the devices for morning arrival times, and they would remain for several days.

"We all know that one of the most important things in teaching and learning is the feeling of safety, and our students here in Fairfax County and our staff continue to rely on us using layered forms of safety and security practices," said Superintendent Michelle Reid in a video demonstrating the technology.

The schools using the weapons detectors that week will not be announced in advance. After the morning bell, FCPS will notify parents or guardians that their child's school was selected, and a second message later that day will send results of the weapons screening.

FCPS noted that the technology is similar to screening devices used at sporting events and concerts. The screening technology can detect weapons such as knives, firearms, handguns, long guns, and materials used to make an explosive device.

Students would have to take out laptops and binder when passing through the screening, FCPS Chief Safety and Security Officer Brian Lambert said in the video. All other items could remain in the student's bag. FCPS says a student declining to pass through the detector would be sent home.

If the detector produces an alert, the student would receive a secondary screening. FCPS said various non-weapon items could cause an alert, including three-ring binders, laptops, eyeglass cases, umbrellas, metal lunchboxes and pencil cases.

The pilot program will continue through the end of the school year. Questions may be directed to the FCPS Safety and Security Office.