Students, staff getting accustomed to new weapons detector systems

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WNCT) — Onslow County Schools recently rolled out weapons detector systems for entrances to schools.

They also have measures in place to make sure children get home safely. Each high school has three weapons detector systems with Jacksonville High and Dixon High having four. Onslow County Schools Chief Communications Officer Brent Anderson said students and staff are getting used to them now.

“I think everybody understood that, you know, the safety aspect of what we’re doing with the weapons detection system versus some inconvenience as we’re going through,” Anderson said. “You know, we’re willing to work with that. And it’s gotten better as the days have gone on here since beginning of school.”

The whole project cost the district $1.9 million and the detectors look for things shaped like weapons. “We’ve got the process down as the days have gone on here,” Anderson said.

Another preventative measure they use is an app called Say Something Anonymous Reporting. Once students are in the app, they can anonymously report things that the school should know about.

There’s a large range of options from bullying to planned fights to threats. The system is monitored by a live team 24/7. Reports go to the school team and the district team to assess how to go about it.

“It also takes the community being aware and knowing that things are happening and letting the school know if they hear things that are going on, letting teachers know if they hear things that are happening, students being able to, to share that kind of information and understanding that it’s not telling on somebody, but it’s working together to come up with safety and working together for the safety of all of our students and staff,” Anderson said.

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