Ohio high school gets safety detectors after threats at school

An Ohio high school has recently installed safety detectors after threats were made to the school.

Assistant Principal of Edison High School Josh Leasure said three metal detectors were purchased for the site and are used on all of the students as they enter the building for classes.

“We’re putting 100 percent of the students through the metal detectors every morning. It took us a few weeks but we are getting there,” Leasure said. “We are also using them at sporting events.”

Officials also thanked parents and visiting fans for complying and supporting the move, and Leasure said the plan was a long time coming.

“There was always a plan in place and last spring we had an event that led us to implement it immediately. We acquired Garrett hand-held wands and use them and the metal detectors at the front entrance near the cafeteria door, which we use as our new student entrance,” he explained. “As they depart the bus, they come through the metal detectors.”

He added that he, Principal Matt Morrison, and school resource officer Deputy Jim Marquis also deploy the wands for added security. Students must remove any electronics such as phones or laptops, as well as chewing gum in foil and cans of deodorant and soda since they may also alert the detectors. The change impacts the schools 550 grades 7-12 pupils, but Leasure said it was for the better.

Other features including wrapping the windows in a decorative safety covering which prevents outsiders from looking in, purchasing Safer Watch phones to alert the Jefferson County 911 system during emergencies and conducting active intruder safety drills so staff and students know the proper procedures. Another addition is the Raptor digital app for teachers’ safety notification and it also includes class roster information to help locate students.

Leasure said working with the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office has also been vital to ensure things run smoothly and officials wanted to take a proactive stance.

“We have good relations with the sheriff’s office. The school district has had three deputies and a police officer in the past as SRO’s in the high school and elementary buildings. This is just another layer of protection for our school and its students.”

Meanwhile, the district has shared a video from the Ohio School Safety Center on the importance of “See Something, Say Something.” The video was posted on Edison Local’s website and is in light of recent events at schools across the area.

“We posted the video on our website and sent a letter to parents to notify them,” said Superintendent Bill Beattie. “It’s in response to everything that had been happening in Ohio and in light of recent incidents. We want to encourage parents to visit the website, show it to their students and have a conversation about threats or bodily harm.”

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