Students who are planning to go to the next Shadow Ridge High School 6 football game, CCSD has implemented a new weapons detection system for all attendees of football and basketball games. Although these types of systems are not new to sporting events, the new system will be used instead of the traditional metal detectors. CCSD started using these detectors at the start of this school year; they added these systems for better security measures.

According to CCSD, “The enhanced Weapons Detection System will be utilized in place of traditional metal detectors at large-scale athletic events, including varsity basketball and football games at high schools.” 

CCSD Police Chief Mike Blackeye said the new systems will speed up screenings at events such as basketball and football games, which he said is crucial especially for games that attract large crowds. It will also make random screenings — which started about four years ago — as students come onto school campuses less disruptive. 

“We did have challenges with arrival screening previously … we couldn’t get all students in time for school to start,” interim Superintendent Brenda Larsen-Mitchell said at a press conference held earlier in the year. “So a lot of the impetus was that it was a faster and more innovative, technology driven system.” 

“We did have challenges with arrival screening previously … we couldn’t get all students in time for school to start,” interim Superintendent Brenda Larsen-Mitchell said at a press conference held earlier in the year. “So a lot of the impetus was that it was a faster and more innovative, technology driven system.” 

CCSD is part of a growing number of school districts upgrading their weapon detectors amid concerns on school shootings. States such as Iowa, Michigan and Utah have passed laws to fund this technology for schools. 

“I think that it’s a little excessive but I get why the school is adding the precautions,” said sophomore, Trinity Maciasz.

Shawn Carter, the district’s Emergency Management Coordinator, said that CCSD has 43 new weapon detection systems, one for every high school that has a stadium. The new weapon detectors cost the district $3.7 million, the district said. 

Carter said one person will be able to pass through the system every three seconds. He said the system will be able to detect metals, including those that are non-ferrous. The system is equipped with a tablet that will show officials the approximate area of where a possible weapon may be located. Carter said a secondary search with a traditional, hand-held metal detector may be conducted for anyone who sets off the system’s alarm. 

Last school year, the district confiscated about 300 weapons — 224 from students — on and off campus including handguns, air guns and knives, according to its firearms confiscation report. The district didn’t confiscate any firearms at any major sporting event last year.