BUFFALO, N.Y. (WBEN) One of the top priorities of Dr. Tonja Williams,
when she became Buffalo School Superintendent, was to improve safety
within the district.
To that end, the Buffalo School Board Wednesday evening will
consider three contracts for security equipment worth more than $3 million
dollars. The contracts include:
*Two-way radios.
*Handheld metal detectors.
*Concealed weapons detection systems that would be installed at the entrances to all school buildings.
"Safety is the utmost responsibility that we have to keep all of our
staff and students safe," said Buffalo School Board member Larry Scott
on WBEN Wednesday. "I'm not expecting any opposition. I think the board, and the Superintendent in particular, have made safety the highest priority after some incidents that occurred last year, as well as this year."
Earlier this year, in February, a student was stabbed and a security guard was shot outside McKinley High School. In September, a student was stabbed at the Buffalo School of Culinary Arts.
The concealed weapons detectors are most significant and most needed according to Scott.
"At all of our high schools, we've been wanding students, which, number one, is not most reliable, and two, is very inconvenient and time consuming. To have concealed permanent detectors at the entrances of our buildings, will be more convenient and more efficient, and will ensure more safety, knowing that no one is entering our buildings with any type of weapon," he added.
Pending board approval, when could the new security measures be in place?
Scott said it's a question he will be asking at the board meeting, after he noted that "it was needed yesterday."
Related
Much of the attention on school security has focused on district high schools. There has been no added security at elementary schools in the district aside from excluding parents and outsiders from entering school buildings.
"As far as security staff, our elementary schools have not had security staff assigned to them. The plan is to allocate security staff to every elementary building as well. But we are starting with high schools at this point," said Scott.
