High schools to get detector wands

Columbus City Schools has announced it will be implementing metal detector wands in the district’s high schools starting next week.

In a letter to families Wednesday night, Superintendent Talisa Dixon wrote that the district’s safety and security office will be performing screenings at randomly selected buildings each day. Dixon emphasized in the letter that “these are administrative screenings — not searches conducted by law enforcement.”

She wrote the purpose of the screenings is to detect weapons, deter students from bringing weapons to schools, and reduce the chance of violent incidents.

“Keeping our schools safe and encouraging a positive school climate is a top priority throughout our Columbus City Schools,” Dixon wrote. “The District takes seriously its responsibility of safeguarding the well-being of students in our care.”

The letter also states that students who refuse to be screened or if contraband is found on them through the screening, they could face disciplinary action. Outside of students, those who refuse a search will be escorted off school property.

A district spokesperson wrote in an email that Columbus police will be notified when a weapon or other contraband is found on a student.

In the first semester, the district saw seven weapons brought into its schools, according to the district’s Office of Safety and Security. In December, the district began using metal detector wands at its middle and high school athletic events.

At a December board meeting, the topic of bringing metal detector wands to schools was brought up. It was also something board members such as Tina Pierce had previously expressed concerns about, especially if the district does find a weapon on a student.

“We don’t know the mental state of anybody at any given time,” Pierce said at a December board meeting. She added those wand checks should have more protections, like having more officers on hand. mylee@dispatch.com @leem386