Marietta City Schools is stepping up its security game with the approval to add advanced weapons detection systems across its schools. This unanimous decision by the school board promises to bring state-of-the-art safety measures to the district, anchored by the Evolve Pass-Through Weapons Detection System. Aiming at enhancing the protection for students and staff, the system will be set up in the sixth-grade academy, the middle school, high school, and the Woods-Wilkins campus, as FOX 5 Atlanta reported.
The integration of this technology was born out of close collaboration between Marietta City Schools officials and the local police department. The search for the suitable tech also involved discussions with other districts and, ultimately settled on using the Evolv systems. Echoing the sentiment of urgency and, necessity prompted by the recent tragic events at Apalachee High School, parents drove the district towards fortifying their security measures. "I think everybody is pretty supportive of the metal detectors. I think we live in a society where it's unfortunately what we need," Jenny Sorino, a parent of two children in the district told FOX 5 Atlanta.
The implementation does not come without its costs – topping half a million dollars for a four-year span. This includes the price of the equipment, training for its operation, and subsequent updates. Nonetheless, this financial weight is eased through funds allocated by the state specifically for safety improvements. Superintendent Grant Rivera highlighted the dual importance of security and efficiency, stating, "We believe that we can get students through the doors as fast as possible. The last thing we want is to put a security measure in place and then have students that are late to class," in a statement obtained by FOX 5 Atlanta.
The system's efficacy will be measured in test runs planned for the spring, ensuring that everything is streamlined for the 2025-26 school year commencement. However, Marietta City Schools are no strangers to Evolv; as the technology has already been employed at high school basketball and football games. "We feel like we definitely have more security as far as students coming into the school system every morning," Jeff DeJarnett, the Marietta City Schools Board Chair, said in a board meeting that was referenced by Atlanta News First. Ensuring timely training on these systems is also a priority, with sessions slated to start "as soon as possible".
As the district moves forward, the community watches with a hopeful gaze. Marietta City Schools is making a firm statement with the blend of new technology and traditional vigilance: they are dedicated to creating a safer environment for the next generation. "It's a commitment to our families that every child is important, every staff member is important, and we'll align our resources accordingly," Superintendent Rivera emphasized in a statement reported by FOX 5 Atlanta.
