BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — Apalachee High School teachers are imaging what it will be like to walk through weapon detectors at work this week.
Monday, students are scheduled to have a digital learning day while staff familiarize themselves with the new safety system there.
“Now, I can at least feel a little bit more safe,” said Heather Kasper.
Families have been pushing for that since the shooting rampage at Apalachee High School left four dead and nine hurt four months ago.
“Unfortunately, it’s a step taken too late,” said Kasper.
Last week, Barrow County School System confirmed deputies arrested a 14-year-old student at school and seized a gun from him. The district closed the school, the board of education called an executive session and voted unanimously to install weapon detectors at the district’s three high schools.
“Wonder why we didn’t do it sooner,” said Floyd Cooper.
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The board said staff has been researching and preparing to announce a decision next month. The district said that work allowed the board to escalate plans after the second gun crime.
“It’s a reactionary measure to the same mistake being made twice which I didn’t even think was possible,” said Kasper.
The teachers who spoke to Channel 2 Action News said one concern remains: lockdown policy and when it is activated. They pointed out investigators said administrators had warning before the shooting rampage in September.
“The first thing we heard was gunshots prior to the lockdown,” said Kasper.
There was no lockdown after the parent reported a gun on campus last week. The district said deputies detained the student immediately.
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“We all have questions we want answered,” said Cooper.
Sunday night, the district said leaders followed proper safety procedures in both cases. Teacher said the weapon detection system gives them comfort while they wait for clarity.
“Weapons are less likely to get on campus. So, it is less likely that they will have to implement a lockdown policy,” said Kasper.
Winder-Barrow High School and Barrow Arts & Sciences Academy will also have a Digital Learning Day when detection devices arrive for those schools. The district said it will share that information with families as soon as it has those dates.
To see the update the district sent to Barrow County families, click here.
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