In a move aimed at bolstering security in educational spaces, the DeKalb County Board of Education greenlighted a plan to expand weapons detection systems across schools and stadiums, as reported by FOX 5 Atlanta. The board's recent meeting concluded with the approval of a $1.6 million investment for leasing additional weapon detection systems, in an effort to prevent weapons from entering school premises.
This decision comes after observed successes with existing Evolv Weapons Detection System units, deployed in 41 middle and high schools within the district, the officials stating the notable reduction in weapons confiscations — from 117, including 24 handguns in the 2022-2023 school year, to 66 weapons with just four handguns the following year according to Atlanta News First. The new arrangement involves outfitting four high schools, namely Lakeside High School, Dunwoody High School, Columbia High School, and Chamblee High School, as well as two additional educational facilities, Wadsworth Magnet and DeKalb Early College Academy and expanding to five football stadiums.
Joel Thibodeaux, DeKalb County Schools' director of audits and compliance, conveyed to the board, "The four high schools are Lakeside High School, Dunwoody High School, Columbia High School, and Chamblee High School. The two additional schools are Wadsworth Magnet and DeKalb Early College Academy. And then we also have the five football stadiums."
Prioritizing areas for the new systems involved consultations where Evolv representatives worked with school administrators and security teams, with DeKalb Schools acting chief of police Larry Wright highlighting the collaborative approach in implementing this technology, the additional systems are set to be funded through the Public Safety and Community Violence Reduction Grant; this was a part of the meeting that concluded with a five to one vote in favor of the plan, it was during the same session that the board also signed off on a $400,000 pilot program curtailing cell phone use at selected middle and high school campuses.
