WFHB Bloomington Community Radio
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The Monroe County Community School Corporation’s Board of Trustees declined to put metal detectors in schools, last night.
The decision comes even after MCCSC Superintendent Judi DeMuth recommended the adoption of the metal-detecting wands, during last night’s meeting.
DeMuth said the wands would be used at school entrances on an ‘as-needed basis,’ and only with police present.
In July, Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb offered school corporations the opportunity to order metal detectors, as a school safety measure. Under the governor’s directive, schools could receive one metal detector for every 250 students.
In a community conversation last month, DeMuth and a panel of school administrators said they had no evidence to suggest the metal detectors provided any real safety benefit. DeMuth said regardless, she would recommend their approval, if the state offered a second opportunity to purchase them.
During last night’s meeting, MCCSC Board member Dr. Janine Butler said, philosophically, she couldn’t agree with putting metal detectors into the district’s schools.
Board President Kelly Smith, and Board members Sue Wanzer and Cathy Fuentes-Rohrer said they had not seen evidence metal detectors brought any added benefits. Board President Smith:
Fuentes-Rohrer also favored maintaining MCCSC’S efforts in social and emotional education. She also pointed to research by school psychologists that suggested the presence of metal detectors actually promoted fear among students.
Wanzer said she also could not support the recommendation, citing a lack of evidence that metal detectors are beneficial to school security.
Voicing support for DeMuth’s recommendation were board members Martha Street, Lois Sabo Skelton and Keith Klein.
Street compared having metal detectors in schools to having a home security system, saying they were a deterrent.
Dr Sabo Skelton said she wanted the tool available if there was any possibility it could be helpful.
Klein said it wasn’t likely school administrators would know ahead of time what a troubled student might have planned. Still, he didn’t want to be caught without the tool.
Klein said he was conflicted over the decision whether or not to put metal detectors in MCCSC schools. He said he didn’t think anyone could be kept safe if, “someone is intent on bringing harm.”
Board members Klein, Street, and Sabo Skelton voted in favor of adopting the metal detectors. Board members Butler, Smith, Fuentes-Rohrer and Wanzer voted against the proposal.
Board President Kelly Smith noted that the issue can be brought before the board, again in the future.
