A plan to install walk-through metal detectors at some Broward County Public Schools was approved by school board members at a meeting Wednesday morning.
The board members formally approved the plan, which calls for installing the metal detectors at a total of 10 high schools and other school centers.
Two schools - Flanagan High and Taravella High - will receive the detectors for summer sessions, and eight more will receive them before school starts in August.
"Metal detectors are not the answer to end all, be all, but we have seen the reduction of weapons found in other counties, also we’ve seen a significant reduction of vape pens because they will be detected as well," Broward Schools Superintendent Dr. Peter Licata said.
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The plan had been discussed earlier this year following a number of incidents involving students bringing weapons to schools.
Currently, Broward County Public Schools do random checks with hand-held metal detectors, called wanding.
Also discussed Wednesday was the contentious issue of repurposing or potentially closing schools.
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Licata said he needed Wednesday's input session to hear from all nine board members as to what they want to see happen so that he can come back with recommendations.
"This is not just about enrollment, but we have to start somewhere," Licata said. "We have to do something, we’re not broke but we’re out of money, we cannot continue this track."
The status quo is not an option because the district is under-enrolled by about 50,000 students.
Licata said he'll come back on April 16 with a plan about which schools could be on the chopping block. The plan could include converting some schools to K-8, closing some outright, and creating more magnet and Montessori schools.
