PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — With the start of school days away, city and school district officials are outlining their strategies to keep schools safe, inside and out.
More police and more technology are being deployed at Philadelphia schools after a year that saw 199 students shot — and 33 killed — in their neighborhoods. The district is expanding its Safe Paths program from 13 schools to 22 schools. That program pays community groups to supervise students on their way to and from schools.
With the end of summer, police officers will be redeployed from recreation centers to duty in 27 school safety zones, Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said at a City Hall news conference Wednesday.
"Students and parents will see an increase in visible officers around these safety zones," she said, though she would not say how many officers.
"These added resources will actually amplify the presence of officers in some of our more challenged neighborhoods."
And the district is using a $600,000 grant to hire police officers to work outside schools at times of need.
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The school district is also introducing stadium-style walk-through metal detectors at 14 middle schools. Last year, 18 guns were found in district schools.
The district’s chief of school safety, Kevin Bethel, said the experience would be minimally invasive for students, and they will not need to be separated from their bags.
"They don't have to put it on a conveyor belt. They don't have to do anything other than walk through these two stanchions," he said.
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Bethel said principals will be able to monitor digital security cameras from their desks or on their cell phones.
And the district also wants to expand its use of drone cameras to keep watch over large athletic events.
"I can hire 15 officers to try to cover that entire site, or I enable myself by bringing a drone to be able to scan that area for security purposes,” Bethel said.