FAST FACTS:
(Memphis 11/19/2009) Metal detectors are used year round at some Memphis Schools, randomly at others.
But a memo, sent to principals this week, is requesting a heighten sense of security and all secondary schools resume enforcing daily metal detections as we enter the holidays."
The Chief of Security says there's a reason.
"Children in certain situations because of home life, economic situation may get more depressed , things may happen in school, so we put an emphasis on things around the holidays." says Gerald Darling, Chief of Security in Memphis City Schools.
Parents say good idea.
"It's gonna be needed on a daily basis, whether they open the school early or not, we gonna need them here. Never know what's going on in people's houses and I am worried about my children." says Lakisha Traywick, who has two children in city schools.
But the head of the teacher's union personally thinks random checks work better.
"Then if they are going to do it, they have to make elaborate plans on how to avoid the metal detectors," says Stephanie Fitzgerald, President of the Memphis Education Association.
But the schools also have random checks throughout the day.
Another part of the memo says because of the high volume of calls from principals, the system is adding another phone line to the 24 hour call area.
"So the call volume was extremely high. We wanted to make sure principals aren't waiting for someone to answer a call." says Darling.
School board members say it's all needed.
"There is no way students can learn academics if they don't feel safe in their environment. So we need to make sure they come to school in a safe environment." says School Board Member Martavius Jones.
The School Security Chief says those daily metal detector checks have proven very successful in finding weapons and deterring students from even bringing weapons to school in the first place.
- Schools focus on safety during holiday season
- Memo calls for daily metal detector checks at schools
- New phone line established for principals to call in about behavior issues
(Memphis 11/19/2009) Metal detectors are used year round at some Memphis Schools, randomly at others.
But a memo, sent to principals this week, is requesting a heighten sense of security and all secondary schools resume enforcing daily metal detections as we enter the holidays."
The Chief of Security says there's a reason.
"Children in certain situations because of home life, economic situation may get more depressed , things may happen in school, so we put an emphasis on things around the holidays." says Gerald Darling, Chief of Security in Memphis City Schools.
Parents say good idea.
"It's gonna be needed on a daily basis, whether they open the school early or not, we gonna need them here. Never know what's going on in people's houses and I am worried about my children." says Lakisha Traywick, who has two children in city schools.
But the head of the teacher's union personally thinks random checks work better.
"Then if they are going to do it, they have to make elaborate plans on how to avoid the metal detectors," says Stephanie Fitzgerald, President of the Memphis Education Association.
But the schools also have random checks throughout the day.
Another part of the memo says because of the high volume of calls from principals, the system is adding another phone line to the 24 hour call area.
"So the call volume was extremely high. We wanted to make sure principals aren't waiting for someone to answer a call." says Darling.
School board members say it's all needed.
"There is no way students can learn academics if they don't feel safe in their environment. So we need to make sure they come to school in a safe environment." says School Board Member Martavius Jones.
The School Security Chief says those daily metal detector checks have proven very successful in finding weapons and deterring students from even bringing weapons to school in the first place.
