Metal Detectors To Be Used At Plano ISD

PLANO, TX -- Plano ISD will begin conducting random metal detector searches of middle- and high-school students soon. The policy, which was approved in late August, is meant to prevent and deter students from bringing weapons to school, the district wrote on its website.

"School officials are authorized to conduct metal detector screenings of students and searches of their personal effects," Plano ISD states online. "Random metal detector searches may occur at any time and students must comply with instructions and directives from school officials during this process. A student who refuses to comply with the search process will be removed from campus and subject to disciplinary consequences pursuant to the Student Code of Conduct. The district will use both walk-through and hand-held metal detectors (wands)."

The randomness of the searches will be determined by criteria like all students in a classroom, all students in a particular section of the building, all students in a specific hallway after the tardy bell, all students entering/exiting a selected door, or all students on every third bus, Plano ISD added. Along with the metal detectors, Plano ISD staff may search backpacks, bags, and personal items.

There have been more 17 shoot shootings so far in the U.S. this year, according to data published by the Washington Post. That is the most in any given year since 2010. On May 18, 10 students at Santa Fe High School were killed by a 17-year-old boy with a 870 shotgun and .38-caliber revolver. This was the second deadliest school shooting this year. The worst school shooting was at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 students were killed Feb. 14.

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