'Weapons Screening Survey' in Alexandria schools: Wednesday is last chance to weigh in
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (7News) — Alexandria City Public Schools students, staff, parents and community members have until 11:59 p.m. Wednesday to participate in the school system's online 'Weapons Screening Survey.'
To share your input, you can find the survey link here.
The school system is trying to gather feedback as it considers new security screening technology that aims to detect weapons at school entrances.
“It’s an uncomfortable decision and a tough decision but as the leader of this school division I want to ensure that our students and our staff and any visitors into our buildings are safe at all times," Interim Superintendent Dr. Melanie Kay-Wyatt said at a February school board meeting, when the proposal was first introduced.
As 7News has reported, ACPS is the latest school Northern Virginia school system to consider the security screening system made by a company called 'Evolv Technology.'
Unlike traditional metal detectors, this new technology would allow students and staff to walk through touchless sensors without opening their bags or removing their phones from their pockets.
RELATED: Alexandria City Public Schools debates installing screening technology to detect weapons
According to the Evolv's website, the weapons detection process is designed to be non-intrusive and high volume, with the system able to scan over 60 people a minute.
"I think it's great. I'd really like the school system to move much more quickly," said Alexandria parent Patrick McNabb. "I think you could go into the school system and find a weapon here any day of the week. And it just takes one incident, one group of students having issues with another group, and then you have a disaster on your hands."
SEE ALSO: 14-year-old boy charged after unloaded gun found at Alexandria high school, police say
Just this week, Alexandria police confiscated an unloaded gun at the Minnie Howard campus of Alexandria City High School. Police said a 14-year-old student was arrested, accused of bringing that weapon into the school building. In a letter to families, the school's principal said a teacher reported that a student was in possession of a weapon.
"It was really troubling," said McNabb, whose child goes to school at Minnie Howard.
He feels that incident is another example of why a security upgrade is needed in Alexandria schools.
"Fortunately in this case another student provided the information where they could get the gun out of the school, but it is a crisis and more bad things are going to happen unless they take other measures," McNabb said.
But 7News has also heard some feedback from people who have concerns about the new technology.
"I feel like it's awfully -- imposing, I guess," said Sarah Elpers, who graduated from Alexandria City High School in 2021. "I think the students might end up resenting it."
Elpers added that she's torn, saying she also understands why some people are in favor of putting the weapons screening system at school entryways.
"Just with the rise of gun violence in general and with schools, it could also curb shooters coming in with guns," she said.
During a Feb. 2 school board meeting, ACPS student school board representative Emily Milton voiced her own concern about the new technology.
“It makes me feel more unsafe honestly and I feel it’s a bad look for our school if we put them in there. I feel more uncomfortable honestly having those in my school," Milton said in February.
This week, 7News also spoke to 18-year-old Diego Romero, a senior at Alexandria City High School.
"I think it would help the school out a little," he said, when asked whether he thinks it would make the school feel more safe. "Because it's a system where you would see guns and everything, see what students are carrying."
ACPS Chief of School and Community Relations Julia Burgos said the results of the school's system's online community survey on the potential use of weapons screening equipment would be presented to the school board at its March 16 meeting.
At that point, the school board is expected to decide whether it wants to move forward with a pilot program.
"I think our March 16 meeting would be the appropriate time to really determine as a board how we want to move forward," ACPS school board chair Meagan Alderton previously told 7News.
If approved by the school board, the ACPS weapons screening pilot program would take place at the ACHS-King Street campus, ACHS-Minnie Howard campus, George Washington Middle School, and Francis C. Hammond Middle School.
RELATED: Manassas City Public Schools to deploy new security screening technology at Osbourn HS
Meanwhile, Manassas City Public Schools began using the Evolv screening system this week as Osbourn High School. The school system shared photos with 7News that show the technology in place at the high school's front entrance.
Manassas is believed to be the first school system in Virginia to deploy that technology, with the system approved for Osbourn High School in December and officially launching on March 6.
"We have received other inquiries from around the state, wanting to know about the system, why we chose them, what our contract looks like, how much it costs," said Andy Hawkins, the executive director of finance and operations for Manassas City Public Schools. "And we hope it will help other school divisions."
Prince William County Public Schools is also considering that same security screening system at all 34 of its secondary schools, and just wrapped up a series of community meetings to get feedback from families.
