What would be the process to get metal detectors in MCPS schools?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are not cost or time efficient. Even the new ones that use sensor technology (so you don't have to remove metal jewelry or belts, they can detect the shape and thickness of metal weapons) take minutes per person to scan. You would also need extra trained staff to monitor the process of each student walking through and be able to respond if a weapon was found.

PG County is doing it. What does PG County know that MoCo doesn't and can't know? Does PG have more resources and expertise than us?

PG County also kept SROs while MoCo got rid of them despite 100% support for the program from school principals.

PG County doesn’t have to contend with the Montgomery County Council, which is primarily directed by a small group of vocal activists.

[Anonymous]

Metal detectors are put in by weak school administrators when they want to appease parents.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are not cost or time efficient. Even the new ones that use sensor technology (so you don't have to remove metal jewelry or belts, they can detect the shape and thickness of metal weapons) take minutes per person to scan. You would also need extra trained staff to monitor the process of each student walking through and be able to respond if a weapon was found.

PG County is doing it. What does PG County know that MoCo doesn't and can't know? Does PG have more resources and expertise than us?

PG County also kept SROs while MoCo got rid of them despite 100% support for the program from school principals.

PG County doesn’t have to contend with the Montgomery County Council, which is primarily directed by a small group of vocal activists.

PG County is a majority-black county and the superintendent is black, so he also doesn't get accused of being racist for proposing things like this.

Dr. McKnight is a black woman so she could push for this as a safety measure too, but she's terrified of the pushback from the white liberals in the county and on the BoE who will squawk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Metal detectors are put in by weak school administrators when they want to appease parents.

School districts in the DMV area with weapons detectors:

- Prince George's County Public Schools
- Alexandria City Public Schools: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/03/16/alexandria-schools-metal-detectors/
- Prince William County Public Schools: https://wtop.com/prince-william-county/2023/10/some-prince-william-co-teachers-students-report-feeling-safer-with-weapon-detectors-in-place/#:~:text=Prince%20William%20County%20Public%20Schools,that%20the%20school%20board%20approved.

Fairfax is currently considering it next: https://www.fox5dc.com/news/fairfax-schools-considers-weapons-detection-screening

Everyone us can't be dumb and we're the only smart ones for opting. Might be time to check your ego and preconceptions.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Metal detectors are put in by weak school administrators when they want to appease parents.

School districts in the DMV area with weapons detectors:

- Prince George's County Public Schools
- Alexandria City Public Schools: https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/03/16/alexandria-schools-metal-detectors/
- Prince William County Public Schools: https://wtop.com/prince-william-county/2023/10/some-prince-william-co-teachers-students-report-feeling-safer-with-weapon-detectors-in-place/#:~:text=Prince%20William%20County%20Public%20Schools,that%20the%20school%20board%20approved.

Fairfax is currently considering it next: https://www.fox5dc.com/news/fairfax-schools-considers-weapons-detection-screening

Everyone us can't be dumb and we're the only smart ones for opting. Might be time to check your ego and preconceptions.

Also DCPS. They have them at Deal which is a middle school. It’s a disaster.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are not cost or time efficient. Even the new ones that use sensor technology (so you don't have to remove metal jewelry or belts, they can detect the shape and thickness of metal weapons) take minutes per person to scan. You would also need extra trained staff to monitor the process of each student walking through and be able to respond if a weapon was found.

PG County is doing it. What does PG County know that MoCo doesn't and can't know? Does PG have more resources and expertise than us?

PG County also kept SROs while MoCo got rid of them despite 100% support for the program from school principals.

PG County doesn’t have to contend with the Montgomery County Council, which is primarily directed by a small group of vocal activists.

Sounds like you might be happier moving to PG

[Anonymous]

How do they seal off the parking lot to prevent someone from shooting people in front of the school or in the line for metal detector?

[Anonymous]

The process is you start a metal detector company and then marry a board member.

[Anonymous]

MCPS needs it. Too many loose cannon potheads and latchkey kids and delusional parents who have no idea what their kids are up to while they are at work

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are not cost or time efficient. Even the new ones that use sensor technology (so you don't have to remove metal jewelry or belts, they can detect the shape and thickness of metal weapons) take minutes per person to scan. You would also need extra trained staff to monitor the process of each student walking through and be able to respond if a weapon was found.

PG County is doing it. What does PG County know that MoCo doesn't and can't know? Does PG have more resources and expertise than us?

PG County also kept SROs while MoCo got rid of them despite 100% support for the program from school principals.

PG County doesn’t have to contend with the Montgomery County Council, which is primarily directed by a small group of vocal activists.

Sounds like you might be happier moving to PG

Perhaps, and I’m being very serious. I view it as a much better run county. I don’t really see the advantages to living in MoCo anymore. It’s being run into the ground.

I suspect I’m not alone in feeling this way, either.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:MCPS is all about perception. They installed vape detecting systems in a few schools and never turned them on. Endless equity training with no clear goals and directives. Hiding complaints about abuse and protecting bad admin. Etc…

McKnight surrounds herself with people who say the right things instead of putting people in charge to make changes. Endless committees.

Yes, as one of the schools that they did this, I can confirm that. Why do crap like that and risk getting called out for it?

Because they usually don’t get called out. They’re not used to people paying attention to the mismanagement and waste.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How do they seal off the parking lot to prevent someone from shooting people in front of the school or in the line for metal detector?

Razor wire and guard towers.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:They are not cost or time efficient. Even the new ones that use sensor technology (so you don't have to remove metal jewelry or belts, they can detect the shape and thickness of metal weapons) take minutes per person to scan. You would also need extra trained staff to monitor the process of each student walking through and be able to respond if a weapon was found.

PG County is doing it. What does PG County know that MoCo doesn't and can't know? Does PG have more resources and expertise than us?

PG County also kept SROs while MoCo got rid of them despite 100% support for the program from school principals.

PG County doesn’t have to contend with the Montgomery County Council, which is primarily directed by a small group of vocal activists.

I'm guessing that the members of the Montgomery County Council, who were elected by the voters, have a better sense of what people in the county want and are concerned about than an anonymous internet rando.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The process is you start a metal detector company and then marry a board member.

Exactly. It's the school-security industrial complex. Metal detectors wouldn't make our kids safer, but they would be good for the bottom line of companies that make and sell metal detectors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone know if this has been discussed/voted on in recent years? Do some schools already have them? What would be the most effective ways for parents to help make this happen?

Jack Smith sent this memo to the board in 2018:
https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/boe/meetings/memorandum/180926-cost-install-metal-detectors-08-30-18-05.pdf

"A recent report in the Los Angeles Unified School District found that the metal detection system was ineffective compared to other security measures and had a negative impact on school climate. This report recommended removal of the metal detection systems in that district."

I guess that sentence from Jack Smith's memo on the subject settles it.