Rowan-Salisbury Schools to vote on new metal detectors

SALISBURY, N.C. ( QUEEN CITY NEWS ) — Rowan-Salisbury School System leaders are looking to upgrade their security measures. Board members plan to vote Monday on spending more than a quarter of a million dollars to buy 12 new metal detectors.

Six devices would be used at middle schools and six other devices would be used at high schools.

District facility managers drew up a contract with Point Security. The district would pay $225,630.81 for the purchase, installation and training on the OpenGate devices .

Dr. Jamie Durant, the district’s Chief Operations Officer, said at a March board meeting that the current metal detectors in use are not very mobile. Each time the security teams needed to move the devices for athletic events or daily use, Durant said the sensors could get “thrown off.”

The funding for the planned purchase comes from a grant from the Center for Safer Schools. It limits school officials’ use of the money for safety equipment.

Rick Towell, Rowan-Salisbury Schools’ safety manager, said one of the more attractive features of the new mental detectors is students won’t have to take off their backpacks while they walk through the devices. He said that will save time during security checks.

Public documents show district officials plan to recommend board members approve the contract on Monday.

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