Add as a preferred source on Google

PA High School Increases Policing of Students, Citing Greater Need in New, Larger Building

  • By Dian Schaffhauser
  • 07/25/19

A new Pennsylvania high school will be running students through metal detectors. Thomas Jefferson High School, which opens in August, is replacing an older school down the block, where the use of a metal detector was piloted last year.

Each day, between 130 and 150 students were designated to walk through the metal detector and have bags checked prior to gaining to entry. The goal was to allow district administrators at West Jefferson Hills School District to collect data regarding security check timing and configuration of the settings on the metal detector. Then in August 2018, the board approved purchase of two additional metal detectors to test the capacity of the school to have every student walk through and have his or her bag checked without lengthy delays. That approval covered the purchase of two additional Garrett 6500i walk-through metal detectors from Markl Supply Company at a cooperative purchasing price of $7,548.

At the same time the board also approved a memorandum of understanding with the Jefferson Federation of Teachers to create four additional metal detector "monitor" positions, up from two. The six teachers are contracted to start their days 15 minutes early to search student bags for guns, knives, tobacco and certain medicines.

Local reporting stated that the district has also hired an additional school police officer, which will double the number at the high school. The school also has two security guards, up from one at the previous location.

When the new school opens, students arriving by bus will enter the building through a back entrance; all other people will come through the front. Three monitors will check bags at the front and three at the back.

The additional security measures were necessary, said school officials, because the new building is a third larger than the previous one, 300,000 square feet compared to 190,000 square feet.

About the Author

Dian Schaffhauser is a former senior contributing editor for 1105 Media's education publications THE Journal, Campus Technology and Spaces4Learning.

Featured

  • Spaces4Learning Trends & Predictions for Educational Facilities in 2026: Part II

    As education leaders look toward 2026, the design of K–12 and higher education facilities is being reshaped by powerful, converging forces. Survey respondents point to the rapid growth of Career and Technical Education, deeper alignment with workforce and industry needs, and the accelerating influence of AI and emerging technologies.

  • sapling sprouting from a cracked stone

    Lessons in Resilience: Disaster Recovery in Our Schools

    Facility managers play a pivotal role in how well a school weathers and recovers from a crisis. Whether it's a hurricane, a flood, a tornado, or a man-made event, preparation determines resilience.

  • UNL Kiewit Hall

    Designing for Engineering Excellence: Integrating Sustainability and Wellness at UNLs Kiewit Hall

    Kiewit Hall at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln exemplifies how academic institutions can integrate sustainability and wellness into modern learning environments. With an integrated and collaborative team approach, Kiewit Hall addresses enhanced learning and creativity, physical health, and mental wellness, and fosters a sense of community through innovative design, operations, and policy solutions.

  • Illinois State University Breaks Ground on College of Fine Arts Transformation

    Illinois State University in Normal, Ill., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts transformation project, according to university news. The series of new constructions and renovations will upgrade spaces in Centennial East, the Center for the Visual Arts, and the Center for the Performing Arts, as well as replace the existing Centennial West facility with a new Commons Building.

Digital Edition